Summary

The Allentown CBOC- Bangor/Tobyhanna CBOC Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care at the Bangor/Tobyhanna CBOC

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 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)
• The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration
• 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
• 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 I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional nursing practice/experience required
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience
• OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience
• OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration - a BSN is not required
• 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.

Duties

• The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based gender-specific care to primary care patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting
• This nurse provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department
• Manages assigned panel(s) - utilizes registries - and ensures appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patient panels
• This nurse provides health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management
• The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic - primary care through collaborative strategies with others
• Evaluates practice in an ongoing process - based on best evidence
• Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Contributes professional outpatient nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
• Partners with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality outpatient nursing care
• Shares educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
• Questions PACT clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture
• The responsibilities of include - but are not limited to: Interviewing and preparing patients for provider planned face-to-face and VA Video Connect appointments
• Interviewing and preparing patients for provider planned face-to-face and VA Video Connect appointments
• This includes - obtaining vital signs and completing clinical Triaging unplanned/walk-in appointments to include face-to-face - VA Video Connect - and telephone appointments
• Provide immediate nursing intervention in all emergency situations
• Complete clinical reminders when due
• Complete nursing documentation per Medical Center Policy/Standard Operating procedure
• Perform EKGs - phlebotomy - ear irrigations - Holter monitor application - administers medications - completes diabetic foot checks - and other clinical assignments as directed by the Nurse Manager
• Maintains competencies for all clinically appropriate procedures
• Maintain and monitor expiration dates of supplies in the clinical area - monitors and records temperatures if indicated - and reports fallouts/outliers to the Nurse Manager in real time
• Perform regular high-risk care management
• Utilizes the Care Assessment Needs (CAN) report - high ER utilizers report and hospital admissions and discharge reports to identify high-risk patients needing follow-up
• Complete two-day post discharge calls for hospital and emergency room discharges
• Knowledgeable of PACT performance measures and takes measures to print reports - track outcomes - and develops plans in coordination with the PACT team to improve the metrics
• Prepare for and participates in daily huddles - team meetings - and interdisciplinary opportunities to improve patient care
• Manage incoming CPRS view alerts and responds to secure messages as indicated
• Utilize approved nursing protocols - medical center policies - and Standard Operating Procedures to facilitate autonomy in providing nursing care
• - Complete all mandatory training timely and participates in PACT initiatives which include - but are not limited to: Secure Message training - TEACH - Motivational Interviewing - PACT 100 - 200 - 300 - 400
• Adhere to principles of infection control - safety - and universal precautions
• Coach - mentor - and precept new nursing staff
• Manage Charge Registered Nurse duties when assigned by the Nurse Manager
• Provide surrogate nursing coverage to other Wilkes Barre Primary Care PACT teams on station - off station to other Wilkes Barre VAMC CBOCs - or remotely as assigned by the Nurse Manager
• Travel to conferences and training off station as needed
• This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocol Work Schedule: 08:00am - 4:30pm ( Work schedule: Bangor-Monday & Tuesday and Tobyhanna- Wednesday - Thursday - Friday) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Bargaining Unit: Yes Travel is required: 60% travel Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized