Registered Nurse, Case Manager at Department of Veteran Affairs

Job Description

The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).
The RN Care Manager practices as an RN in the Primary Care Clinics and maybe assigned to clinic located in SLCVAMC catchment area. The RN Care Manager is a member of the Patient Care Aligned Teamlet (PACT). S/he uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet (Patient, Primary Care Provider, RN Care Manager, Clinical Associate, and Clerical Associate) and expanded Team (Family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient) in developing the patient-driven care plan. The RN Care Manager is responsible for collaborating with services internal and external to the VA facilitate care transition in order to effectively meet the patient’s needs. The RN Care Manager provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management, prevention, and wellness, based on the patient’s goals. The RN Care Manager demonstrates leadership by serving as an advocate for patients, based on the patient’s goals, and a team leader with colleagues as she/he continues to enhance his/her own and the team’s professional growth, development and practice.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

– Proficient using VA EMR and nursing specific documentation
– Care Coordination.
– Phone Triage.
– Walk-in Triage / Physical Assessments.
– VVC Triage / Assessments.
– Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments, using the nursing process, based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
– Working knowledge of Nursing Scope of Practice and ANA Code of Ethics.
– Proficient in administering medications (All routes and 5 rights).
– Proficient heart / lung sounds and assessment.
– Placing labs per protocol.
– Placing consults per protocol.
– Placing orders per protocol.
– Ability to surrogate coverage other PACT staff members.
– Ability to perform other PACT staff member’s roles as needed basis.
– Provided culturally competent and gender specific care.
– Provided Women’s Health care and chaperone as needed.
– Ability to pull data specific to PACT and panel management.
– Provide and document patient education specific to disease states.
– Will remain competent in all areas as assigned.
– Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment.
– Correctly and safely performs all nursing procedures.
– Recognizes abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients’ condition and responds appropriately by documentation and provider notification.
– Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in basic health teaching.
– Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills
– Maintains professional boundaries with patients, families, and employees. Behavior as a role model is transparent and above reproach
– Ensures application of institutional policy to protect information from unauthorized release, loss, alteration, or deletion.
– Maintains competency on PEE use/ donning and doffing
– Demonstrates safe work practices. Complies with safety rules and regulations for safe job performance and fire protection.
– Contributes to an environment of a High Reliability Organization with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing health care solutions based on prevention, not punishment, with collective mindfulness.
– Responsible for environment of care (EOC) issues when on duty. Ensures, clean, safe environment.VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) – See “Additional Information” below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I – An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II – An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III – An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II – A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master’s degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III – Master’s degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: This 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. Mechanical inpatient 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, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients 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 patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO APPLY