Summary

This Registered Nurse is located in Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. This position is Full-Time at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

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.) Preferred Experience: BSN Preferred - 3-5 years acute care experience preferred - Home Based Primary Care experience preferred
• 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
• 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/12745100
• 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: 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

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Geriatrics and Extended Care Service (GEC)/Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Staff Nurse is a Professional Nurse with broad-based clinical knowledge enabling him/her to effectively implement health promotion - prevention - and management for adult or older adult Veterans requiring primary care interventions in their home
• HBPC Special Population PACT is a VA home care program that provides comprehensive - interdisciplinary - primary care in the homes of Veterans with serious medical - social - and behavioral conditions for whom routine clinic-based care is not effective or may not be possible
• HBPC Special Population PACT furnishes in-home interdisciplinary primary care services to a Veteran where the Veteran is residing
• The HBPC program targets persons with complex chronic diseases that worsen over time and provides interdisciplinary care that is longitudinal and comprehensive rather than episodic and single-problem focused
• HBPC provides cost effective primary care services in the home and includes palliative care - rehabilitation - disease management - caregiver assistance and support - and coordination of care
• The HBPC Staff Nurse utilizes the Nursing process when assessing - planning - implementing - evaluating - and documenting Nursing care provided
• She/he works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team when planning and providing care to HBPC Veterans and their caregivers - utilizing evidence based research where applicable to better address the HBPC Veteran needs
• The HBPC Staff Nurse functions independently to organize and delegate assessed needs to other members of the interdisciplinary team and peers
• She/he provides feedback to the HBPC Program Director regarding the practice of others in order to improve care
• She/he provides direct in-home visits to Veterans in HBPC and provides information to team members regarding strategies used in the home setting to meet the Veteran and caregiver needs
• The HBPC Staff Nurse participates in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement activities in HBPC and/or Medical Center with the objective of improving patient care outcomes
• She/he takes an active role in identifying his/her own educational needs and continually updating clinical skills
• The HBPC Staff Nurse participates in Patient Care Services and/or Medical Center Committees representing Nursing and/or HBPC as assigned
• Duties include: Responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to HBPC patients as appropriate to the setting
• Provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the HBPC Program
• Responsible for case management - assessment - triage - Veteran education - resource coordination - medication and treatment coordination - and care planning
• Plans and delivers technically competent care in the home of Veterans with complex needs - including health promotion - health prevention - geriatric care - primary care - and palliative care
• Utilizes interventions - which maximize health capabilities and reduces unnecessary urgent care and emergency room visits - per Veteran's goals of care
• Makes home visits to Veterans in the program
• Assists in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and enhance outcomes utilization
• Integrates outpatient nursing knowledge - skills - abilities - and judgment and is self-directed in goal setting for managing complex HBPC situations
• Validates understanding of the rationale for care processes and decisions
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence based care
• Demonstrate the ability to cope with and manage competing priorities
• Demonstrates competence in HBPC practice and decision-making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills 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: Full Time
• Days- starting at 8am Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position Selectee may be required to work at any VA Connecticut Healthcare System campus - as needed
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action)
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.