The Cardiac Electrophysiology Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is either a Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who practices in Specialty Care (specifically, in Cardiac Electrophysiology, within the Section of Cardiology) to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission.
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 - 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 Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) 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. Desired Certification: A desired certification for this position includes holding certification as a "Certified Clinical Device Specialist" (CCDS) as a result of passing the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) examination on cardiac implantable electrophysiology devices. If this certification is not held at time of hire, the incumbent is expected to obtain this certification within 2 years of hire. 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: The 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. Uses Mechanical lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be mature flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities, based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.
The APN provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management of patients with arrhythmias and cardiac implantable electrophysiology devices (CIEDs). The APN practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. General Duties: 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. Participates in outpatient care of patients at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and/or its associated clinics. Performs and/or assists in cardiovascular diagnostic testing within scope of approved privileges 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. Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. Cardiology/Cardiac Electrophysiology-Specific Duties: The EP-APRN practices in the inpatient and outpatient clinic setting at the Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC. The EP-APRN is academically and clinically prepared to perform a broad spectrum of patient care services at the expert level. The EP-APRN has been granted clinical privileges by the Medical Staff and practices autonomously with consultation as necessary. The EP-APRN provides specialty care to adults in the area of the Cardiology, focusing on, but not limited to arrhythmias and bradycardia and tachycardia devices. The incumbent will conduct outpatient Arrhythmia Clinics. The incumbent will play a key role in the assessment and follow-up of patients considered for, or with implanted anti-bradycardia (pacemaker) and anti-tachycardia (ICD) devices, with attention to the patient/device interface as well as device surveillance via remote monitoring. This process extends from preoperative patient and family education to the full scope of post-operative surveillance, encompassing routine test, observations, and adjustments required to address early and late device-related problems. General cardiology care includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome measures of cardiovascular and other medical problems including , performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consults and referrals, and initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, state regulations and scope of practice. The EP-APRN will assist in the assessment, device programming and monitoring of patients with implanted cardiac rhythm devices who require MRI studies. The EP-APRN will coordinate pre- and post-procedure planning and logistics for invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular procedures, proctor stress tests and tilt table tests, and assist in moderate sedation as required. The EP-APRN serves as a consultant to medical, nursing, and allied health staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs. The EP-APRN works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care, and patient education, participating in research activities, and additionally, assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation techniques. The EP-APRN serves on medical center, VISN and/or National Committees and assists in the development, evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice. 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 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not eligible Telework: This position is authorized for telework-situational (ad-hoc) AND has not been authorized as remote. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized