Summary

The W.G. "Bill" Hefner VA Medical Center is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse (RN) assigned to the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Housing and Urban Development Veterans Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program aligned under the Mental Health Department. The HUD-VASH RN is an active member of the team providing professional nursing care in support of determining initial and ongoing appropriate housing placement of the Veterans in the program in a wide variety of settings.

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:
• 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/
• Preferred Experience: 2 years Mental Health experience required Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• VAAAHS is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility - serving medical - surgical - and neurological inpatients and outpatients
• There is a large outpatient psychiatric and medical/surgical population - with admissions for medical co-morbidities
• This is a direct patient care position and the incumbent must be able to meet the physical demands: Must be able to lift at least 45 pounds Ability to use both hands Walking & standing 8-12 hours Repeated bending 8 hours Ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously Visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity (near vision correctable @ 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 Ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing (aide permitted).

Duties

• The Housing and Urban Development Veterans Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Registered Nurse (RN) serves as a healthcare consultant for Veterans requiring clinical/nursing services while living in the community (i.e. - (i.e. - diabetes care - medication instruction and appropriate administration - monitoring substance use disorder (SUD) compliance and blood pressure monitoring)
• The HUD-VASH RN provides clinical services to Veterans such as guidance - emotional support - referrals to agency organizations - community resources and other assistance
• The HUD-VASH RN is responsible for the completion of the electronic medical record (EMR) and evaluation and monitoring tools to ensure the delivery of care and outcomes
• The HUD/VASH RN will be required to operate a government vehicle to carry out job responsibilities
• A current - valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position
• Duties include but are not limited to: Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care Documents nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care in accordance with facility policy Participates in warm hand-off - care coordination - liaising with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care - and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed Coordinates Veteran care within the community and will be required to transport Veterans or materials using a government vehicle Provides health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments Conducts and participates in outreach activities - coordinate any travel scheduled with rural clinical sites - community partners - at Veterans Affairs (VA) Stand-Downs - and for any other homeless special events
• Function as point of contact with Veteran's Service Organizations (VSO) - etc. - to recruit and arrange for new homeless patient appointments
• Participates in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and care delivery to patients Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age specific components Attends and participates in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team 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-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Telework: Not Authorized Travel: 50% - 75% travel required Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized