The Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, NC is recruiting for a full-time Nurse Practitioner within the Liver Transplant team.

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Duties: The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) may be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) for Gastroenterology and Hepatology. The APP would have primary areas of responsibility to involve the care and management of patients with advanced liver disease, specifically focused on liver transplantation patients. This position will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This APP is delegated the authority and responsibility in his/her area of expertise to assume major clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to the care of Hepatology patients. Clinical: Primary focus of practice is the clinical management of health care for patients with advanced liver disease, including patients with cirrhosis, pre-and post-liver transplant, and patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Assist with evaluation and coordination of care for pre-transplant patient population. This includes: Patient and family Education Ordering and reviewing MELD and HCC labs Ordering and reviewing HCC imaging/lab. Provide follow-up care for post-transplant patients including monitoring for organ rejection and/or complications. This work includes Titration of immune suppression medications (in collaboration w/ transplant center/providers) Order and review Routine labs, every 2 weeks to 3 months Order and review ID labs for the first year Order and review HCC surveillance every 6 months for the first 5 years (if applicable) Additional duties will include following those with advanced, decompensated liver disease such as cirrhosis. Paracentesis will be performed by the candidate selected for this position. Collaborate with members of the health care team/system to enhance patient care by making clinical decisions, following up on laboratory results, medication management and clinical information. Communicate with members of the health care team. Promotes, directs, evaluates and is responsible for the management of safe patient care to Hepatology and Gastroenterology patients. Participates as a member of the multidisciplinary team to assess and monitor Hepatology and gastroenterology patients. Facilitates patient's entry and exit from various health care systems by establishing and maintaining liaison with a variety of medical specialists and associated staff. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols in their application to the Hepatology and gastroenterology patient population in all settings. Collaborates with other health care resources to ensure continuity of care. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant in the area of specialty and serves as a resource person for the medical center staff. Administrative: Primary resource for outpatient Hepatology consults, assessing patient acuity and appropriately schedules evaluations. Monitors and maintains liver transplant tracking package. Partner with existing liver transplant coordinator to manage liver transplant program. This includes: Order evaluation MD summary/transplant packet/TRACER submission Setting up air travel (all other travel goes to the travel office) Coordinating with other hospitals within the VISN and in community Advocating for Veterans undergoing liver transplantation evaluation Participates in Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Board Conference and Transplant conference. Completes patient's disability and insurance forms as needed. Arranges for gastroenterology procedures and interventions with the Radiology and Surgery services. Oversees scheduling to the outpatient Hepatology and Gastroenterology clinics with resolution of scheduling conflicts. Education/Research: Promotes and participates in the delivery of patient and family health education. Participates, directs, and provides opportunities for staff development through in-service education as needed. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in Hepatology and gastroenterology and clinical medicine. Participates in Hepatology and Gastroenterology Section's clinical research programs when appropriate.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 - Minimum of one year of successful practice as an Advanced Practice Provider with at least one year of Hepatology 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 mostly periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents 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 stakeholder needs.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: KARI LEPINE
• Phone: 906-396-9895
• Email: [email protected]