The NP is directly responsible to the HBPC Medical Director in the assigned area and must follow local policy regarding a collaborative agreement with a qualified physician. Utilizes advanced practice nursing skills and knowledge in a relatively independent manner in areas of patient care.

Duties

The NP provides primary care to a panel of assigned patients in the patient's home setting. Primary care includes evaluation of acute and chronic medical conditions, health promotion and disease prevention. Care delivery is provided in patient's home as part of multidisciplinary team. This process includes evaluation, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan. The NP practices in accordance with local policy and procedure. Responsibilities include, diagnosis and treatment, as well as prescribing privileges for medications, devices, tests and procedures, and referral authority. The NP functions as an advocate for patients in meeting their unique physical and psychological needs. Role, responsibilities, and accountabilities also include demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age related needs of patients served in the assigned area of practice. This knowledge includes understanding changes associated with aging. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: Clinical Duties: 1. Conducts home visits to assess needs of patients and their caregivers 2. Assesses patient's and caregiver's needs for home visits by providers of other disciplines 3. Performs comprehensive medical assessments/ evaluations in the patients' home setting with consultation with Medical Director, as needed 4. Performs medication reconciliation in home settings 5. Manages and treats medical conditions in the home setting as primary care practitioner, involving the Medical Director as needed. 6. Formulates multi-disciplinary treatment plans 7. Provides health education to patients and their caregivers 8. Responds to telephone calls from patients and caregivers regarding health care. 9. Refers patients to appropriate community or VA programs 10. Other clinical duties as assigned which may include coverage of other HBPC providers 11. Draws labs and administers vaccines in the home. Administrative: 1. Participates in weekly team meetings and provides innovative management ideas for patient case reviews 2. Participates in continuing program assessment and process improvement. 3. Participates in collecting and collating data required for team reports Education/Research: 1. Participates, directs, and provides opportunities for staff development through in-­service education as needed. 2. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in home care 3. May participate in approved education or research efforts. In addition, the nurse practitioner is accountable and responsible for possessing the knowledge and skills to: * Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with all internal and external customers * Maintain confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient/employee information * Demonstrate working practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 and Certifications: Three years or more of outpatient primary care provider clinical experience. One year or more of home care provider experience. 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. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly 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. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Brian Watt
• Phone: (906) 396-7485
• Email: [email protected]