This nurse practitioner position is in the Medical Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System, located at the West Roxbury location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. NOTE: This multi-discipline recruitment will result in the hiring of one of the following disciplines: Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant All interested Physician Assistants must apply through announcement: CBTD-12716508-25-TLW
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. Accepted Certifications - Family NP, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP. 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. Preferred Experience: Allergy Clinic Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.
Duties to include: Coordinates and performs allergy skin testing for environmental, food, medication, patch testing, immunotherapy, and administration of biologics Independently coordinates the oversight of allergy extracts, pertinent medical information between multiple sites to include MVAHCS, CBOCs, Walter Reed, for continuation of immunotherapy schedule Contributes to the development of the patient's overall health plan and carries out the patient's plan of care with communication to the Veteran, Allergy providers, and CBOCs; Taking measures to ensure patient care is delivered safely by following all patient safety guidelines, protocols, and standard operating procedures for Allergy Works with ancillary services including lab, dietetics, alternative medicine, and mental health to coordinate and provide for allergy adjunct care treatment; Provides education and training to Veterans, clinical staff and Providers on clinic operations Provides Allergy Immunotherapy Training to Nurses administering immunotherapy on site and at collaborating MVAHCS and CBOCs Conducts chart review of current immunotherapy patients and identifies additional need for on-site staff training regarding Immunotherapy dosing, documentation template, and up-to-date allergy and immunotherapy practice Prioritizes overall patient care needs and adjusts plans for care by reviewing past treatment(s) medications and determining a plan for scheduled Allergy Clinic visits. Accurately and thoroughly documents care delivered and patient's response to care that could require immediate modification of the patient's care plan; Conducts VVC and phone visits, follow-up phone calls, urgent and non-urgent care calls, and Secure Messaging Maintains Allergy Database Educates patients on prescribed medications/treatments according to established policies and VHA Directives and appropriately records patient's response to medications/treatments received; Promptly recognizes potential anaphylaxis, informs the Allergist, Allergy NP, of observed changes in patient's condition and initiates appropriate, prescribed interventions, following anaphylaxis treatment guidelines and documentation; Documents and reports all abnormalities, changes, and deviations to Allergy Provider and communicates openly about patient care and treatment concerns; Assists patients and their families in taking an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles for more positive patient outcomes, to include potential outcomes to Immunotherapy treatment and education regarding environmental allergens; Exhibits skill, creativity and initiative to improve the overall care delivery and patient and/or family satisfaction levels through active participation in committees/task forces, research projects, continuing education opportunities and in developing educational materials/media. Promotes and effectively incorporates established customer service standards in all aspects of clinical practice; Work Schedule: 7am-330pm, Monday - Friday Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Notifications: This is not a Bargaining Unit position. Current or former employees must submit copies of their most recent Sf-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is in the Excepted Service. Veterans preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process. 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards