The Nephrology NP examines and assesses nephrology patients and is responsible for participating in all aspects of care for patients seen with chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury and kidney transplant as well as patients that receive dialysis in the acute/chronic dialysis unit. Responsibilities include the diagnosis, management, and treatment of patients with kidney disease. This includes in person encounters, telephone consultation, telemedicine, and VA video connect methods of care.
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 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. 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: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other. Utilizes Safe Patient handling equipment. The incumbent will be exposed to fluoroscopy and must be able to wear lead protective equipment for extended periods of time. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Employee Health Clinic policy. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids. a) Lifting up to 45 lbs. (intermittently) b) Carrying up to 45 lbs. (intermittently c) Repeated bending d) Straight Pulling up to 45 lbs.(intermittently) e) Straight Pushing up to 45 lbs. (intermittently) f) Stooping (intermittently) g) Squatting (intermittently) h) Kneeling (occasionally). i) Use of both arms j) Use of both hands k) Use of fingers l) Overhead work; both arms (intermittently) m) Prolonged walking (up to 4 hrs./day) n) Prolonged standing (up to 4 hrs./day) o) Sitting (up to 2 hrs./day) p) Hearing- ability to hear and understand the spoken voice from a distance of 8 feet. Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds q) Emotional and mental stability- ability to effectively perform the essential functions of the position and respond appropriately in emergency situations. The Department of Veteran Affairs must provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities where appropriate.
Clinical/Patient Care Coordination: The incumbent will coordinate the delivery of complex Nephrology outpatient and inpatient care with other members of the health care team. The Nurse practitioner needs to work effectively with others, establish relationships with professional or other health related groups, and performs duties as a Nephrology Nurse Practitioner in the nephrology clinic. This includes the accurate interpretation of laboratory results and test/procedure findings in order to establish a plan of care and the oversight and provision of outpatient hemodialysis. Administrative: 1. Maintenance of clinical activity statistics and implementation of quality improvement initiatives for outpatient hemodialysis, report updates, important trends, or issues to the ESRD committee. Maintain required data entry into the Dialysis Dashboard every month and deliver infection control data to IPEC. 2. Provide education on dialysis modality options and assist with coordination of care for patients choosing to do peritoneal dialysis. 3. Prepare and submit kidney transplant evaluation package. 4. Attend medicine service, nephrology section, ESRD committee meetings and dialysis group meetings when scheduled and available. This will often require preparation prior to each meeting to provide patient specific reports and data trends as well as any issues of concern. 5. The nephrology nurse practitioner will always practice in a manner that supports and enhances the Memphis VAMC philosophy and goals. 6. Serves as the lead in assuring performance measures are met for the Memphis VAMC nephrology section and communicates these performance measures to the nephrology staff. When quality metrics are not achieved, an action plan is created to assist in their future obtainment. 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 thru Friday / 0800 - 1630 Pay Schedule: NF97 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized