Nurse Practitioner

Duties

Announcement closing date extended thru January 30, 2023.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

The Program Manager (Nurse Practitioner) of Recovery Services in the Mental Health Clinical Center, VAMHCS, is responsible for the administrative efficiency, clinical integrity, and effectiveness of all VAMHCS Recovery Services mental health programs (excluding Local Recovery Coordinators and Suicide Prevention Team members).

Major duties include but is not limited to:

• Responsible for the operation and management of key clinical and administrative programs.
• Responsible for development and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures; oversight of administrative and programmatic resources; and monitoring of outcomes, using data-driven quality assurance processes.
• Assures programs meet or exceed internal and external review criteria (e.g., VHA Handbook requirements, Patient Safety Alerts, etc.), performance measures, clinical reminders, and standards of all accrediting bodies.
• The incumbent is responsible for the clinical and administrative development, coordination, and delivery of a full range of multidisciplinary patient care services across VAMHCS.
• Coordinates with other Mental Health and non-Mental Health programs as needed as well as all community partners to ensure timely and effective access to care at all levels of the VAMHCS organization.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with community treatment programs and other VA treatment programs within reasonable geographic distance in order to fully develop and implement a referral system with available community resources.
• Responsible for responding in a timely manner to patient concerns.
• Responsible for representing Recovery Services at the monthly mental health all-staff meeting and at the monthly Mental Health Leadership meeting.
• Provides clinical oversight of non-LIP staff.
• Performs other duties as requested or assigned.

The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) is responsible for facilitating the fulfillment of the mission, vision, and values of the VAMHCS Mental Health Clinical Center. The incumbent performs at an advanced level of nursing practice characterized by increased complexity of clinical decision making. The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) functions autonomously as an independent clinician providing diagnosis and treatment of a wide variety of psychiatric disorders throughout all of VAMHCS at all Mental Health Service sites. The NP is a skilled health care provider who utilizes critical judgment in the performance of comprehensive health assessments, and history and physicals to include differential diagnosis, ordering of diagnostic tests, and the prescribing of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in the direct management of patients with mental illnesses and addictions.

Duties may also include:

• Provides direct patient care to individuals and groups of patients in the Mental Health Clinical Center.
• Provides expert consultation, support, and direction to both inpatient and outpatient clinicians as an interdisciplinary team expert, resource, and consultant.
• Manages the care of mental health problems by negotiating, procuring and coordinating services and resources needed by patients and families.
• Responsible for the provision of high-quality and cost-effective care to patients with mental health needs.
• Provides care that is consistent with the ANA Standards of Advanced Nursing Practice and with all applicable local, community, VISN, or National professional statutes and regulations.
• Ensures practice of nursing is consistent with external standards such as TJC and internal standards such as the Clinical Practice Guidelines, VA Performance Measures, and Systems Redesign.
• Participates in and monitors performance improvement within the Mental Health Service.
• Conducts and/or participates in research and staff education.
• Collaborates with other VAMHCS and community healthcare providers to exchange knowledge and share clinical expertise.
• Contributes to public policy.

Work Schedule: Fulltime, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact George Patrick Kinek at george.kinek@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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:

• At least 5 years of full time clinical experience as a psychiatric NP
• At least 2 years of supervisory experience
• At least 2 years of program management experience.

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 III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing and approximately 1-2 year's 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 and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

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. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or 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 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.

Education

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

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .

Additional information

Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses, and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .