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

This Nurse Practitioner - Residency Program Director position is located in Mental Health Service at the Togus location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards This is an open continuous announcement (OCA) and will remain open until May 21, 2024. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Included but not limited to: Responsible for program development and policies in compliance VHA Handbook 1400.08 Education of Associated Health Professions and VHA Handbook 1400.4 Supervision of Associated Health Trainees. Responsible for oversight of standards of nursing practice to include competencies, credentialing, training, functional statement, position descriptions, interviewing of applicants/hiring, proficiency reports, and performance appraisals for the nurse practitioner residents. Ensures appropriate orientation/education and fosters an atmosphere of continued professional development. Assumes responsibility for staffing and scheduling of nurse practitioner students and residents; and ensures that assignments reflect their appropriate utilization, and compliance with staffing guidelines. Participate on service and medical center committees and task forces to improve nursing practice and patient care. Giving advice, counsel, or instruction to residents and students on work and administrative matters. Hearing and resolving complaints and referring more serious complaints not resolved to higher level supervisor. Recommending and/or taking disciplinary action where appropriate. - Identifying developmental and training needs of NP Residents/Trainees and making provision for such development and training. Functioning as an expert in NP clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. Systematic evaluation of current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise. Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with academic and clinical leaders and facilitates development and implementation of the education initiatives, including curriculum development and program evaluation components. Support clinical faculty and preceptor development, participate in hiring and evaluating clinical faculty, lead program evaluation activities and complete an annual report of the accomplishments of the program. Performs direct in-person or virtual face to face mental health triage, screening assessment and treatment when indicated. This assessment includes a mental status examination with appropriate documentation in the electronic medical record. Performs same day mental health assessments of patients who have typically been triaged by MH clinic RN's. Provides psychiatric coverage for colleagues in outpatient or inpatient settings as appropriate. 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: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: May be available on an Ad-Hoc basis at supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for highly qualified candidates EDRP Authorized: Contact Hannah Neilson, [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Assignment Code: 75, Nurse Practitioner Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Notifications: This is a Bargaining Unit Position This position is in the Excepted Service Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is covered by a special rate.

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. Education. Graduate of a school of professional nursing. (1) 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. (2) 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. Licensure and Certification. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment. (1) 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. (a) All APNs (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: i The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC); ii The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB); or iii Other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. (b) The required basic certification as a Nurse Practitioner must be identified in support of any position being established or filled as an APN (NP). An approved list of NP/APN certifications may be found on the Office of Nursing site at the Office of Nursing Services. (c) Basic certification as a nurse practitioner is a condition of employment and qualifying factor for the specific assignment. (d) APNs (NPs) are credentialed and privileged to provide care based upon scope of practice, formal graduate nursing educational preparation, certification, and patient population. It is the focus of care based on patient care needs, not the care setting, that defines the provider's scope of practice and basic certification required. The scope of practice is determined by the provider's formal academic education and basic Nurse Practitioner certification. The assignment will either require a specific basic certification as a nurse practitioner, i.e., Mental Health, Women's Health, etc., or may allow for more than one basic nurse practitioner certification. (e) The APNs (NPs) may also hold a specialty certification which in many cases is not specific to a Nurse Practitioner role. Specialty certifications may be highly recommended but are not required as a condition of employment or required for an assignment and do not support the basic board certification nurse practitioner requirement. (Mental Health Certification Required) 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. (1) APN (Nurse Practitioner) II. (a) Scope. Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. (b) Education and Experience Requirement. D Meets basic education requirement for APN (CNS). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required. (5) 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. Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP). AND ii One year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level 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: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm or https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp.- If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.- If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Diane Pardini
• Phone: 401-273-7100 X26783
• Email: [email protected]