Summary
The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system – offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista – Escondido – Imperial Valley – Kearny Mesa – Oceanside – Sorrento Valley – and Rio Clinic. The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.
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.) 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/13006059
- 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
- Preferred Experiences: Minimum of 1-2 years active/current nursing experience Experience in Women’s Health – Gynecology or IVF Care Coordination – Disease Prevention Management – Data Management experience Preferred
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard – please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- 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.
Duties
- The functions of the Women’s Health RN Care Coordinator include – but are not limited to: Coordinating and tracking gender-specific care (breast – cervical – maternity/post partum – fertility) of patients throughout all aspects of the medical center – including Community Based Outpatient Clinics – as well as community vendors and/or agencies
- Monitoring breast or cervical cancer screening measures with focus on processes to improve screening metric to meet facility and national benchmarks as assigned
- Assisting with VA consult referrals or community services for the patient to include coordinating any subsequent appointments or follow-up – as needed
- Educating patients on a variety of gender-specific topics – to include importance of routine medical screenings including VA and community-based resources for gender specific care
- Demonstrates knowledge of gender specific care including maternity/lactation – breast and cervical health – reproductive care including fertility management
- Completes ongoing telephone contact for assigned veteran panel guided by MCC Program Manual throughout the duration of pregnancy and one year into the postpartum period to assess clinical and/or social care needs – facilitating care and services between VA and non-VA care providers as assigned
- Responsible for management and tracking of breast or cervical screening results as assigned and ensuring timeliness of patient notification results by ordering provider for normal and abnormal results
- Demonstrates ability to locate resources in timely manner and critical thinking skills to resolve patient care needs independently and within scope of practice
- Collaborates with inter-professional teams using various methods to facilitate patient care coordination and alerts appropriate team members for actionable items
- Participates in daily huddles – in-person meetings – and all Women’s Health outreach events – resource fairs – focus groups – and town halls
- Documenting all patient care interactions accurately within 2 business days
- uses appropriate note titles – templates – and clinical reminders in the electronic medical record
- Utilizing and maintaining tracking spreadsheets and monitoring/tracking data systems as required by VHA Directives and Handbooks – as well as by requests of the WHPM and WHMD
- Maintaining professional skills in the application of professional bodies of knowledge and accepted clinical practices that will facilitate oversight of service delivery of patient care
- Participating in quality improvement programs and initiatives including system redesign – to improve access – quality – efficiency – and patient satisfaction
- Other duties as assigned
- 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: Full time
- 0730-1600 Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized