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. Program 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

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) III Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in the Mental Health Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management. Duties may include, but are not limited to: *Independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice. *Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management. *Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. *Orders and interprets labs, tests, and diagnostic studies. *Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. *Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services. *Provides education to patients and their families. *Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. *Serve as member of Mental Health Service Leadership team. *Responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of operational policies and procedures for SARRTP, with the approval of the Chief of Mental Health. *Ensures that appropriate coverage is arranged for patient care responsibilities when staff members are on leave. *Ensures timely access to residential care, in accordance with local and national policies. *Coordinates with assigned administrative partner to ensure section administrative support, human resources, strategic planning, space, and budget needs are met. *Interfaces with discipline-specific professional leaders as appropriate (e.g., nursing psychology, social work). *Participate in mental health leadership team meetings and hospital committees. *Organize and lead team meetings to facilitate case disposition, care management, effective delivery of clinical interventions, and the adherence to administrative demands. *Assess, diagnose, monitor, manage and treat mental health diagnoses (DSM-5). *Perform a complete mental health history, relevant health history, physical examination, and biopsychosocial assessment. *Formulate mental health diagnosis and treatment goals based on data obtained from assessment. *Promote mental health and wellness. *Provide psychiatric treatment of substance abuse (acute & chronic, including detoxification). *Collaborate and consult with physicians on routine medical management. *Develop individualized mental health treatment plans for assigned patients in collaboration with the SARRTP treatment team. Reassess and modify treatment plans as necessary to achieve mental health goals. *Administer and interpret standardized measures to assess patient outcomes and progress. *Provide counseling and education to patients, families and caregivers on mental health. *Provide ongoing consultation and education to staff nurses, medical team and student trainees. *Provide mental health consultation to other disciplines/services and the medicine wards. *Initiate consultations with and referrals to other services and community agencies as clinically indicated. *Assist in innovative, cost effective programs or protocols of care and performance improvement projects. *Conduct psychopharmacotherapy according to VA regulation and within the guidelines of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. *Admit patients to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit and SARRTP, including evaluation for admission and initiation of inpatient orders. *Manage psychiatric treatment of patients on the Mental Health inpatient unit and SARRTP, including discharge. *Order patient care and prosthetic supplies as appropriate. *Order and interpret diagnostic testing and therapeutic modalities, including, but not limited to laboratory tests and diagnostic studies. *Order VA specialty consults and ancillary services when appropriate. *Participate in quality improvement review, including systematic review of records. *Maintain timely, accurate, legible and confidential medical records *Provide the above specified services in person and via telemedicine technology. 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: Mon - Fri, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

Qualifications

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 27, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be September 3, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates once prior certs are returned. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*** Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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). NOTE: 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 will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment. License and Certification: License. All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APN (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), 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. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II: 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 on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B). Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required. Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program. 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. Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice. Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III: Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level. Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: 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. 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. 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. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility. 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: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Education

Please see "Qualifications" section above for more Education details.

Contacts

• Address VA Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]