The duty location for the Registered Nurse Telehealth position with VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend HCS is located at 2601 Veterans Drive, Harlingen, TX.
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: 1-3 years of recent care coordination 1-3 years of Outpatient care 1 - 3 years of Med Surg/ED TeleHealth (video/telephone) nursing 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/12707780. 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: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling (0.5 hours), pushing (0.5 hours), reaching above shoulder, walking (5.3 hours), standing (5.3 hours), repeated bending (5.3 hours), 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, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid permitted).
- Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet and larger Team to meet patient care needs. - Provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management, prevention, and wellness, based on the patient's goals. - Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge in assessing planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating care for a designated group of patients. - Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing, and resolving patient care problems. - Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team. - Monitors progress with clinical guidelines and/or pathways, analyzes variations and initiates appropriate actions. - Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources, programs and services, referring patients for community resources as appropriate. - Collaborates with patient and care providers. - Reviews options with patients and families, including costs, alternatives, risks/benefits and services. - Actively educates the patient and family on disease process, resources, plan of care, treatments and/or procedures. - Advocates fiscal responsibility through effective utilization of resources, to include medical supplies and non-traditional appointments. - Provides Care Management to patients with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) including reviewing the patient record, deciding if the patient needs more in-depth education (formal or informal); nursing visits and/or telephone calls between provider visits to assist in care management. Collaborates with the High Risk Care Coordinators, Home Telehealth, and or other referrals for care management. - Reviews Message Manager and assists Team to address/complete pending alerts communicated throughout tour of duty to facilitate care and address needs of the caller within 48 hours - Provides patients with personalized, proactive, and patient-driven health care through such activities as assisting in developing a personal health plan, listening to the patient and addressing their needs/goals, engaging in group appointments, encouraging and supporting Telehealth modalities, and creating an environment that benefits the veteran. - Delivers patient centered care to all patients and employs population health management principles to optimize health and wellbeing for the patient through such activities as use of evidenced-based practice recommendations, completing clinical reminders, tracking high risk behaviors, maintaining an awareness of access through knowledge of third next available appointments, assisting the patient to develop coping mechanisms, assisting the patient to identify health care goals and actions to take to meet those goals and evaluating progress. - Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient manner, using evidence-based principles. - Actively educates the patient and family on health promotion and disease prevention strategies and options for care and treatment. - Demonstrates flexibility and adapts to work demands or adjustment of assignment. Performs other tasks as requested by providers or supervising nursing personnel within the scope of training and abilities. - Screens patients for social service, home care, and other community care needs; and coordinates or makes referrals as appropriate; and seeks consultation when indicated. - Appropriately documents own interventions and oversees appropriate health team documentation of patient care. - Keeps patient's provider aware of patient progress, issues, and/or problems. - Evaluates needs and facilitates the patient's ability to learn the principles of self-care. - Actively participates in care delivery with priority attention to patient preference. - Utilizes approved Protocols and Guidelines to facilitate autonomy in providing care. - Promotes cost effective use of resources; effective least-expensive strategies expected in non-face-to-face approaches. - Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all patient information, including electronic, print, and conversations. 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, 0800-1630 Telework: Ad-hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit: This position is part of the Bargaining unit.