Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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/12889305
• 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 Experience: MDS experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The Nurse is required to meet the physical demands of standards as outlined in VA Directive and VA Handbook 5019
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear speech - and manual dexterity
• This position may require potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.

Duties

• Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care
• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• Leading the CLC Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)/Minimum Data Set (MDS) program - which includes serving as the Facility Administrator of the RAI/MDS program and MDS software and promoting the application of the RAI/MDS Assessment for resident care planning
• Directing the RAI/MDS RN who is responsible for coding for nursing assigned sections and Care Area Assessments (CAAs)
• Identifying CLC Interdisciplinary Team members to conduct the interrater reliability reviews - which must be conducted - at a minimum - quarterly
• Collaborating with CLC management or charge nurse to support the CLC Interdisciplinary Team members conducting the interrater reliability review - at a minimum - quarterly - which assesses the accuracy of the RAI/MDS Assessment and reporting trends of errors identified
• Completing the interrater reliability quarterly report and submitting it to the CLC leadership team
• In the absence of a CLC MDS RN - the CLC RAC must document and take corrective action when notified of any discrepancies in coding or documentation during the interrater reliability review
• Transmitting RAI/MDS Assessments to the Austin Information Technology Center
• Communicating Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines changes - educational sessions - MDS coding changes and RAI/MDS program updates to CLC staff and developing and implementing educational plans for CLC staff to ensure ongoing education for the completion of the RAI/MDS process and software
• Ensuring - in accordance with current CMS and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requirements - completion of the RAI/MDS Assessment by the CLC Interdisciplinary Team and providing recommendations - developing - and updating procedures related to the RAI/MDS process
• Educating CLC staff on the RAI/MDS process to ensure appropriate completion
• Serving as an expert consultant in identifying quality of care deficiencies and assisting with performance improvement projects related to quality management and CLC Compare
• Responsible for downloading - validating - and distributing quality management and Resource Utilization Group (RUG) reports and distributing them to the CLC Interdisciplinary Team and leadership
• Assisting with continued survey readiness for the annual unannounced survey process and Interim Quality Oversight survey readiness for the CLC
• Ensuring the CLC meets regulatory guidelines for scheduling quarterly and comprehensive MDS assessments as outlined in the MDS guidelines
• The nurse brings principles and theory with the application of critical thinking skills
• The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care - trains America's future health care providers - and conducts important medical research
• Facilities include our Thomas H
• Corey VA Medical Center - VA operated clinics in Port St
• Lucie and Delray and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in Boca Raton - Fort Pierce - Okeechobee - Stuart - and Vero Beach
• To learn more about the services each location offers - visit the VA West Palm Beach health services page
• The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System includes a 108-bed community living center (nursing home) and a 13-bed blind rehabilitation service - which is the referral center for blind and visually impaired Veterans throughout Florida
• The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network
• We're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (VISN 8) - which includes medical centers and clinics in Florida - Georgia - and the Caribbean
• 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 - 7:30am - 4pm EST - Monday - Friday
• Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact v8_edrp_wpb@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.