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 Nurse Practitioner (NP) functions as a professional, independent practitioner with advanced education and appropriate experience who provides evidence-based care for a specific population of patients. The NP works with many disciplines to provide care. The NP for the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) service functions as a licensed independent practitioner collaborating with physician, peers and appropriate others in the health care community to develop and implement individualized patient treatment plans. The NP will function under the guidance of the SICU Attending Physician, the SICU Medical Director, and/or the Surgical Attending Physician to include providing 24/7 coverage of direct patient care for patients on the SICU service. Qualified candidates will have experience functioning as a critical care provider and will have appropriate licensure/certification. The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for facilitating the fulfillment of the VAMHCS mission, vision, and values. The NP is responsible for care of Veterans in the SICU for evaluation and management. He/she provides direct patient care, utilizes surgical clinical guidelines and appropriate medical standards of care and collaborates with attending physicians in providing quality care to patients presenting with acute and chronic conditions. The NP will obtain informed consent and perform the treatment or procedures for which that NP is credentialed. The NP, with approval of the Attending SICU Physician, will coordinate transfers into or out of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and transfers of patients from other facilities, and respond to ward emergencies for surgical patients. The NP's practice goal is to promote wellness and prevent illness/injury. Timely and concise documentation of care is expected. The NP will also have an understanding of the needs of the organization and is responsible for facilitating the fulfillment of the VAMHCS mission, vision, and values. *In order to fulfill the above responsibilities for a 24/7 functioning ICU, qualified candidates are expected to maintain a flexible schedule with coverage responsibilities that include nights, weekends, and holidays (will be compensated accordingly). Qualified candidates will demonstrate: Leadership, experience, and creativity in approaches to the management of complex patient care. Wide background of experience, an intuitive grasp of clinical situations, and capability to make efficient and timely diagnoses. Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in a multidisciplinary care environment. Ability to apply professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and best practices to improve programs and/or service activities. Ability to think critically and apply skills to appropriately manage Intensive Care patients in a swift and expeditious manner. Scope of practice include but are not limited to: Performance of comprehensive patient health assessments, appropriate ordering of diagnostic tests and studies, use of critical judgment in the formulation of differential diagnoses and management plans, and prescription of appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments in the direct management of acute and chronic illness. Performance of procedures in the ICU patient under the guidance of the SICU attending physician, SICU medical director, or other attending physician as indicated. Leading and organizing multidisciplinary delivery of care. Arrangement of discharge, follow-up care and/or patient referrals. Functioning as a resource and a consultant to other members of the multidisciplinary team. 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: Tour of Duty (TOD) will vary based on 24/7 coverage for the ICU. The SICU NP will be expected to maintain a flexible work schedule which includes rotations on nights, weekends and holidays (will be compensated accordingly). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.. Contact the EDRP Coordinator at [email protected] for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements 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. Preferred Experience: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner certification Two or more years working in inpatient/acute care Surgical Care or Critical Care. Additional Master's or Doctorate Degree; highly desired Experience with patient safety initiatives and quality improvement projects; preferred Critical Care Nursing (CCRN) certification; preferred Inpatient Acute Care Nurse Practitioner experience in an acute care hospital; highly desired Critical Care (ICU) or Inpatient Acute Care Nurse Practitioner experience in an acute care hospital setting of 2 years or greater; highly desired. 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 VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6a, Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting and repositioning patients or similar activities. Moderate lifting (15-44 lbs.); Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Moderate carrying (15-44); Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Straight Pulling (1hour); Pushing (1-3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4 hours); Standing (2-7); Kneeling(2hours); Repeated bending(2hours); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both Legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; specific visual requirement 20/40 DVA; corrected; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Sitting (8 hours per day); Simple Grasping (2-4 hours per day); Fine Manipulation (4-6 hours, includes keyboarding per day); Twisting (2 hours per day). This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Deana Maranto-Dorsey
• Phone: 443-421-6518
• Email: [email protected]