The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) for Cardiology Consult Service with the Medicine Service Line is accountable for promoting patient safety, continuity/quality of care and general well-being of the patient. The nurse practitioner collaborates with physicians and ancillary services to provide this care. The APN provides specialized care through traditional face-to-face mechanisms, as well as virtual electronic/tele-medicine mechanisms, in order to provide efficient, Veteran-centric care.

Duties

Preferred Experience: 3 years Advanced Practice Nurse experience/ Inpatient/Outpatient experience in Cardiology The advance practice nurse (APN) provides cardiology services as a Full Practice Authority provider. The APN provides care with an emphasis on cardiology according to established standards of care/practice, policy, and procedure. - Diagnose, treats, and manages patients with cardiac care needs according to standard, usual, and acceptable methods and techniques. - Recording data from clinic visit, including chief complaints, active problems, medications, physical findings and results of diagnostic tests - Formulating assessments and plans according to accepted protocols, treatment plans or treatment protocols - Ongoing evaluation and assessment of outpatients seen within the electrophysiology specialty service - Prescribing medications according to outpatient formulary - Ordering, coordinating, and management of required labs, outpatient records, medications, consultation and/or follow-up planning for patients with known or suspected cardiology/arrhythmic pathology. - Referring patients to other services of subspecialty clinics as indicated - Providing patient education of medical conditions, preventive measures and prescribed treatments - Performing lab review, identifying abnormalities according to established guidelines - Works closely with other specialist and primary care physicians to ensure that patients receive continuous quality care - Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols - Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures and protocols relevant in the area of specialty and services as a resource person - Follows established guidelines, ethics, and policies and protocols of the Medicine Service line, and the Department of veteran's health administration (VHA) and the profession - Progress notes, Orders, history and physical and discharge notes as required - Care planning with collaborating physicians, peers, patients, families and allied services for appropriate/safely diagnosing and treatment of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases - Possesses basic knowledge and use of electrocardiogram interpretation and arrhythmia recognition. - Responds to chest pain code as necessary - Conducts telephone, WC, and CVT clinics for improved veteran access, response to and addresses e-mails, secure messaging and patient phone calls. - Facilitates long-term follow-up care when needed - Participates in the management of discharge planning needs, including ancillary services to assure safe accommodations for the veteran. - Educates patients on cardiovascular health promotion and disease prevention - Triages consults, completes e-consults and coordinates with collaborating physicians - Assists with physician clinics when necessary - Coordinates inpatient admissions by emailing schedulers/bed management and inpatient providers. - Monitors literature and attends conferences to maintain current knowledge base and improve practice based on new information integrates evidenced based standards into daily practice. 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-Friday 7:30AM-4PM Telework: Ad-HOC Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Licensure and Certification: License: All APNs (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted APN license to practice as a NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APNs (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC); The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB); Other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic qualification requirements, the grade level of an APN (NP) is based on a combination of education and experience. Beyond the minimum education requirements, grade determination for appointment, advancement and promotion will be based on the following specific requirement for an APN (NP). The level of practice at which an APN (NP) may perform is based upon a combination of many factors. Beyond the minimum educational requirements, grade determination, upon appointment and advancement, is dependent upon aspects such as continued professional development (formal and/or informal education), clinical performance, judgment, outcomes (at the service level and beyond), leadership and interpersonal skills that influence, inspire and motivate others within their program/service or beyond. As the APN (NP) acquires the knowledge, skills and judgment that accrues with experience, the privilege of increased authority for patient care and service in administrative roles is expanded as applicable. APN (Nurse Practitioner) II. (a) Scope. Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. (b) Education and Experience Requirement. Meets basic education requirement for APN (CNS). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required. (c) Dimension Requirement. APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: i Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population or program. ii Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care. iii Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care. iv Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice. v Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes. APN (Nurse Practitioner) III. (a) Scope. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care. (b) Education and Experience Requirement. i Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP). ii (c) AND One year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level. Dimension Requirement. APNs (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: i Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population or program. ii Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations. iii Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population or program. iv Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility. v Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6a Nurse Qualification Standard. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (up to 35 pounds); heavy carrying (up to 35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.

Education

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (NOTE: the post-master's certificate is formal education awarded from an acceptable school of professional nursing and is not considered board certification as described under 2.c.(2) of this appendix).
  • Education Accreditation Requirement: Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing accredited by one of the following accrediting organizations at the time the program was completed by the applicant: (a) The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. The ACEN accredits all levels of nursing programs, including clinical doctorate, masters/post-master's certificate, baccalaureate, associate and diploma nursing education programs. (NOTE: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013 ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998, an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly via their email contact information on the ACEN website to verify.); or (b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 7, Washington, DC 20001. The CCNE is an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and accredits nursing education programs at the bachelor and master's level
  • Foreign Education: Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent Nurse Practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active and unrestricted registration and certification (see paragraph 2c) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Eun-hae 'Grace' Foglietta
• Phone: (610) 384-7711 X4456
• Email: [email protected]