This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Substance Use Disorders Treatment Program will work with the Substance Use Disorders Treatment Program in Mental Health Service at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Louisiana Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). Duties include but not limited to: Manages program resources (financial, human, material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective, and efficient care. Analyzes resources available and identifies risk areas, including budgetary, staffing, supplies, equipment, and availability of data and information. Effectively manages assigned resources and identifies creative strategies to increase efficiency within programs, the service, and the medical center. Analyzes and forecasts for FTEE related to staffing ceiling. Self-directed in collaborating with colleagues to review staffing and plan strategies together to solve issues. Analyzes staffing patterns for methods to keep overtime costs down. Participates in recruitment and retention of quality staff for the service. Participates and takes a leadership role in providing input in the budgetary process at the service level. Reviews equipment needs and submits equipment requests, providing vendor information and cost analysis. Initiates, implements, and evaluates trial equipment. Establishes patient care priorities based on patient needs that ensures patient care can be delivered in a safe, efficient, and cost effective manner. Ensures staff comply with infection control practices, such as handwashing and wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment. Ensures staff comply with safe work practices. Complies with safety rules and regulations for safe job performance and fire protection. Ensures staff practice safe body mechanics, uses mechanical devices, and/or requests help when needed in moving, lifting, or turning patients to prevent injury to patient, self or others. Encourages prompt reporting of all accidents and reporting of unsafe or unhealthy environmental situations/conditions. Corrects safety hazards promptly. Puts broken equipment out of service immediately, tags it as such, and follows-through for appropriate disposition of the broken equipment. Conserves resources effectively by using supplies and equipment in a responsible manner. Will ensure employees follow appropriate standard operating procedures related to the equipment, devices, and work practices that impact or have the potential to impact the environment. Will comply with relevant environmental regulations, Executive Orders, and Green Environmental Management Systems (GEMS) initiatives. Will consider environmentally preferable recycled products in all purchasing decisions. Leads within a framework of a High Reliability Organization with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing health care solutions based on prevention, not punishment, with collective mindfulness. As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), is an expert clinician in a specialized area of nursing practice. The specialty may be identified in terms of a population, setting, or medical subspecialty. Designs, implements, and evaluates patient-specific and population-based programs of care. Influences care outcomes by providing expert consultation and guidance to nursing staff within the field of his/her specialty and by implementing improvements in health care delivery systems. Assesses plans, implements, and evaluates the total health care of a specialized patient population in a clinical specialty area. Resolves unusual or unique patient care problems or situation which requires analytical, interpretive, and constructive thinking. Might have prescriptive authority with a panel of patients. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4: 00 pm Telework: Available 2-4 days a pay period Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Contact Robert Knudsen, [email protected],, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Preferred Experience and Certifications. Experience working in Substance Use Disorders treatment; Supervisory experience; Program Management experience Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Rebecca Montgomery
• Phone: (281) 536-7730
• Email: [email protected]