The Community Health Registered Nurse is directly accountable to the Home and Community-Based Care Program Coordinator and to the Chief of Social Work. Clinical supervision is provided by a designated ACNS. The Community Health Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for the provision of direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse Veteran patient population.

Duties

The Community Health Registered Nurse possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting, which will then enable effective implementation of health promotion and prevention practices, management of acute and chronic illnesses, and the attainment of optimal levels of functioning and/or support of the dying patient and significant others. The Registered Nurse collaborates with other members of the interdisciplinary health care team to ensure continuity of care. The Community Health Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for completing referral, authorizing services, and monitoring care provided in the following Home and Community-Based Care (HCBC) programs: Contract Community Nursing Home Contract Adult Day Health Care Homemaker/Home Health Aide Non-Institutional Respite The Community Health Nurse serves as a member of the inspection/survey teams for Contract Community Nursing Homes, Contract Adult Day Health Care Centers, and the North Carolina State Veterans Home. The Community Health Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for making monthly and as-needed visits to monitor Veterans served by the Contract Community Nursing Homes, Contract Adult Day Health Care Centers and select FEE Basis arrangements. This nurse may be required to make home visits to patients who are receiving home health care. The Community Health Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for data collection and performance and quality improvement for designated HCBC programs. Role responsibilities and accountabilities also include demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to authorize care appropriate to the age-related needs of Veterans served in the community setting. This knowledge includes but is not limited to understanding changes associated with aging and specific needs of the population served. The Registered Nurse functions to perform specific procedures, treatments, and care delivered to Veterans receiving care in non-VA community settings. Annual competency validation is required for these skills. The Community Health Registered Nurse provides leadership for planning, implementing, evaluating, and providing follow-up for the care needs of Veterans within or transitioning to/from the community setting. Specific practice settings include Medical-surgical OR/PACU, Critical Care, Ambulatory Care, Acute Care, Emergency Dept., Behavioral Health, Hospice, and Community Living Centers. The practice of the Registered Nurse in this position has a direct impact on quality patient outcomes in the assigned area and for the facility. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday through Friday;8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. (Tour of duty subject to change based on the needs of the agency) Telework: Ad Hoc telework may be available at the discretion of the Service Chief or equivalent Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. 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. 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. 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 I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is Nurse III. 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. Preferred Level of Education: Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN or bachelor's degree in a related field and 2-3 years' experience MSN obtained in bridge program (no BSN required) and 2-3 years' experience. Doctoral Degree in nursing or related field and 2-3 years' experience Preferred Qualifications(s): Demonstrated ability to work independently in a clinical role with skills and knowledge of the nursing process. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with providers and other interdisciplinary team members. Previous Nursing Home experience to include MDS ratings and resident's standard of living rights. 2-3 years of successful nursing practice in medical-surgical areas. Demonstrated ability to analyze and extract data for budget and program management. Preferred Certification(s): ANCC in Case management and/or for Geriatrics Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: Tierra White
• Phone: 919-827-2514
• Email: [email protected]