The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a professional registered nurse with advanced education from a university-based Nurse Practitioner program and appropriate experience who provides evidence-based care for a specific population of patients in Medical Service (Infectious Disease), VA San San Diego Healthcare System

Duties

The incumbent assumes the following roles and responsibilities: Performs history and physical (H&P) exams for patients with Human lmmuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) or other patients consulted to SplD (such as Pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis patients). Responds and directs scheduling of SplD consults. Performs diagnosis, management, and evaluation of HIV-specific medical complications. Develops inter-professional treatment plans using VA-approved standardized procedures, coordinates the treatment plan with all providers and serves as a contact person for HIV patients and their families. This includes performing H&P exams, reviewing medical records, monitoring laboratory and diagnostic tests, ordering treatments and medications, responding to telephone inquiries from patients, families, and providers both from the VA and community. Provides primary care management for the HIV population, including for patients of assigned physician providers. The NP may perform the following functions: general evaluation of health status, including, but not limited to, the ordering of diagnostic procedures, medical supplies and formulating plans of care; assessment and management of acute and chronic illness; and the furnishing of medications and devices according to approved standardized procedures. Approved standardized procedures are to be performed in areas that will allow for the collaborating physician to be available to the NP by telephone or in person, including, but not limited to, all VA facilities or the patient's home. Physician consultation will be obtained for non-emergent situations when the nurse practitioner is managing a medical condition that is not resolving as anticipated, adjustments in medications/therapy have not brought about the expected improvements, or any time the nurse practitioner seeks additional expertise on providing appropriate treatment for a specific condition. Electronic progress notes will be in a problem-oriented format and sufficiently detailed to obtain a clear picture of the patient's current health status. All patient contacts and visits with physician involvement must include the name of the physician in the progress notes. Monitors response to the individualized care plan and adjusts plan as needed to achieve outcomes. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, including case managers and social workers, to meet the patient's individual needs; coordinates and manages HIV patient-specific research protocols with VA and UCSD. Maintains mandatory and clinical competencies of the position. Coordinates and manages HIV patient-specific research protocols with the VA and the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Consults with physicians, other nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, and other clinicians in the organization in the management of HIV-infected patients. Attends HIV and primary care conferences and meetings. Coordinates home care services with internal and external nursing resources. Submits internal and external consults to other health care providers as needed. Assists in Provides patient education informally or in a formal setting. Assist in the HIV Program management through a team approach. Assists staff and hospital education by presentation or coordination of events. Collaborates with SPID care coordinators/social workers in providing care coordination services to HIV- infected Veterans. Participates in community-based HIV-related meetings, committees, and other events. Contributes to the learning experience of NP students and/or other students through preceptorship. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Full Time Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. Education. 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 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 (MCN) and accredits nursing education programs at the bachelor and master's level. 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); or Other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. 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. Basic certification as a nurse practitioner is a condition of employment and qualifying factor for the specific assignment. 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. 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. Impaired Licensure and Certification. Human Resources office staff must appoint APNs (NP) in accordance with the provisions in chapter 3, section 81 paragraph 15 of this part, who have, or have ever had, any license or certification revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited or issued/placed in a probationary status. Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician Nurse Practitioner (GNT-NP) on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(8). GNT-NP must take the national certification examination at the earliest scheduled date following the date of their temporary appointment. GNT-NP must actively pursue and obtain required licensure and certification within a year and a day and sign a statement of understanding. Failure to achieve licensure and certification within this period will result in separation from service with two-week's notice. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6a Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Lifting maximum of 35 pounds for patient care (animate); non patient care (inanimate objects) maximum lifting is 50 pounds. Pulling, pushing and reaching above shoulder may be required; use of fingers, both hands required, walking and standing for the duration of your tour; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination. Safe patient handling and management modalities are required at all times. VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Education

Education. A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.

• 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
  • 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 (MCN) 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 San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: GeeHan Chua
• Phone: (925) 372-2334
• Email: [email protected]