Summary

This is a Registered Nurse Clinical Informatics Specialist position within the Clinical Informatics department at the Pittsburgh VAMC. This position integrates nursing science - computer science - and information science to manage and communicate data - information - knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice. Clinical Informatics facilitates the integration of data - information - knowledge - and wisdom to support patients - and providers in their decision-making in all roles and 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13000212
• 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: Heavy lifting up to (35 pounds)
• heavy carrying up to (35 pounds)
• straight pulling (2-4 hours)
• pushing (2-4 hours)
• reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours)
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (4-6 hours)
• standing (4-6 hours)
• repeated bending (2-4 hours)
• both legs required
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other
• both eyes required
• ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color
• hearing (aids permitted)
• mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• Duties include - but aren't limited to the following: The Clinical Informatics Specialist (CIS) positively influences the enhancement of workload performance and productivity through support in the expansion to new areas - enriching process improvement - through continued integration - ongoing modification - continued support - and - enhancement of the medical record system & supplementary resources
• The CIS supports integration of solutions into service and specialty workflows which address certifying bodies and other governing metrics
• Examples of access measures affected by the CIS position are that they facilitate referrals and communication of the veterans needs through creation of consults - establish orders for medications - labs - additional consulting services - treatments - documentation within notes/templates needed to record outcomes and provide historical records for decision support & continued - timely patient centric care
• The CIS supports local - VISN and National enhancements and troubleshooting and supports the improvement of the quality - efficiency - and effectiveness of health care by integrating clinical and information processes necessary to achieve successful adoption and application of new technologies throughout the Veterans Health Administration
• Efficiency is improved by supporting clinical staff in the enhancement of the clinical record - developing communication tools such as consults and related templated information at the request of service lines - creation of orderable items - orders - order menus - and order-sets - note templates - consults - clinical reminders - clinical procedures configuration - to enhance clinical workflows
• The CIS is an integral resource for VA leadership when mission critical updates/problems are identified at facility - regional - or national levels - and serves as a subject matter expert for new technology assessment and usability
• The CIS also serves as a consultant for committees - such as Clinical Informatics team - Clinical Leadership Council - and - the national Consult Performance Improvement Team
• In addition - the CIS: - Incorporates theories - principles - and concepts from appropriate sciences into informatics practice (information - systems - implementation methods - workflow analysis - process redesign - organizational culture - database structure - project management - etc.) - Integrates ergonomics and human-computer interaction (HCI) principles into informatics solution design - development - selection - implementation - and evaluation.- Systematically determines the social - legal - regulatory - and ethical impact of an informatics solution design on clinical workflow and the healthcare system
• - Develops presentations and reports utilizing data and data analysis appropriate for both internal and external stakeholders regarding clinical software - managing the implementation - oversight - and use of clinical technology - the electronic medical record - to guide change - track compliance - identify organizational needs or highlighting improvements
• - Formulates data tools for quality management and clinical oversight - extracting data from VA's corporate data systems and conceptualizes - designs and/or assists in the development of templates - reminders - order sets and other tools to collect and/or report required clinical and administrative information
• - Develops and presents recommendations for improving clinical data-management methods - follow-up procedures and timely compliance with regulatory guidelines
• - Advises facility informatics personnel on the maintenance of electronic health record site parameters and electronic health record site-specific files as necessary to ensure consistent and proper functioning of complex interrelated and interdependent software applications
• -Serves as a CPRS trainer
• 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 Preferred Experience: 3-5 years minimum of clinical informatics experience is preferred
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M
• - 4:30 P.M
• with mandatory rotating on-call
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.