The Palliative Care Coordinator is primarily responsible for coordination and administrative functioning of the Palliative Care Program; ensuring high quality practices in the treatment of symptoms at the end of life through the coordination and integration of various nursing, medical and complementary interventions.

Duties

The Palliative Care Program Coordinator reports to the Nurse Manager of the Hospice Unit and is responsible to the Associate Chief Nurse for Geriatric and Extended Care, and the Hospice Medical Director. They will coordinate the efforts of the multiple disciplines involved in caring for patients at the end of life and serve as a consultant, educator, and resource person developing and implementing educational programs. Responsibilities and duties include but not limited to: Utilize VA wide data system and analytics to drive a proactive care approach to services offered in various care settings. Develop and implement specific measures to monitor the effectiveness of the program. Responsible for identifying and facilitating options and services for meeting complex patients' health needs while decreasing fragmentation and duplication of care and enhancing quality, cost ­effective clinical outcomes. Collaborates with internal interdisciplinary team members to initiate referrals, access resources and to problem-solve clinical and/or social issues, related to care plan development and/or implementation. Interacts positively and collaboratively with internal providers and patients and their family members, and other community providers and agencies to identify and coordinate services for complex patients. Adheres to established policies, standards of care and standards of practice. Plans, develops, implements and evaluates educational programs/activities based on assessed learning needs of staff related to Hospice and Palliative Care. Responsible for ensuring high quality practice in the treatment of symptoms at the end -of- life through coordination and integration of various nursing, medical and complementary interventions including coordination of the efforts of the multiple disciplines involved in caring for patients at end of life or with a life limiting disease throughout all settings of the Boise VA Medical Center and those Veterans served in the Ambulatory Setting (e.g. PACT or HBPC). Supports and actively participates in initiatives such as High Reliability Organization (HRO), Patient Centered Care, Just Culture, and I CARE Values. Duties will be performed throughout the facility based on patient/resident needs and may be directed to work in other areas within the organization in extenuating or emergent situations. Identifies patient population and individual patients in need of palliative care at VA hospital, home and community hospital or other healthcare organizations. Assesses complex patients to identify needs, issues, resources, and care goals, and identifies resources and critical factors focusing on quality of life and comfort care. Analyzes initial assessment data and coordinates with the palliative care team to ensure early consultation and management of complex needs. Educates patient and/or family on specific needs that will facilitate their participation in the plan of care. Evaluate healthcare metrics related to patients with high mortality risk and proactively reaches out to them to obtain early palliative care referrals. Serves as a palliative care educational resource and provides consultation to other staff on continuing care needs and identification of appropriate resources, utilizing evidence-based criteria. Contributes to continuous process improvement work and engages with systems redesign to support quality of care and operational efficiency. Participates in strategic planning, business plan development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the palliative care program. 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 0730-1600 Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available 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

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Preferred Experience: Hospice and Palliative Care Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12328330. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. 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: Light lifting (under 15 lbs); Light carrying (under 15lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (8-12 hrs); Standing (8-12 hrs); Repeated bending (8-12 hrs); 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 to 20/40 in the other); Ability to see computer screen; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: Excessive noise (intermittent); Working closely with others; Working alone; Protracted or irregular hours of work.

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 Boise VA Medical Center 500 West Fort Street Boise, ID 83702 US
• Name: Richelle Lyford-Maye
• Phone: 208-422-1000 X7015
• Email: [email protected]