Veterans Health Administration

Compensation

Full Description

Summary The Home and Community Based Services program Registered Nurse is a member of the interdisciplinary team responsible for providing centralized, standardized, administrative and clinical eligibility reviews for authorization of purchased in home services. Works in partnership with facility HCBS teams to ensure Veterans receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Duties Help • *These positions may be filled by a Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, or Occupational Therapist. These positions are advertised on separate USA jobs announcements. If you are interested in the other disciplines, you will need to apply to that vacancy announcement.** The HCBS IDT emphasizes Aging in Place and the 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility), encouraging restorative care over dependency. The program integrates both VA purchased and internal VA-provided home and community-based care services (HCBS). The RN's responsibilities include centralized, standardized administrative and clinical eligibility reviews for authorizing VA purchased in-home services, guiding care across VISN 23, assisting with Veteran planning assessments, identifying barriers, and ensuring smooth transitions in and out of the HCBS program. Position Specific duties include but are not limited to: • Utilizes knowledge of VISN 23 HCBS and VA program to match Veteran level of functioning with appropriate internal and external services, ensuring patient safety, recovery, and continuity of care. • Applies advanced nursing clinical knowledge and judgment to engage in planning, decision-making, and evaluating VISN 23 HCBS program eligibility. • Systematically evaluates current practices and formulates outcomes for patient groups and organizational processes within the area of expertise. • Collaborates with interprofessional team members at VISN and facility levels to ensure consistent services, objective eligibility determinations and service delivery with clear documentation and communication. • Works with VISN 23 HCBS IDT members to develop and implement strategies for program eligibility, service delivery, location, level of care discharge planning, appeals process, and performance improvement. • Conducts comprehensive clinical reviews of patient records to identify the need for personal care services and/or the presence of supervision or protection needs daily. • Documents information used in clinical eligibility determinations and eligibility assessment tools. • Demonstrates leadership, experience, and innovative approaches in managing complex Veteran care. • Assists with the implementation of the MISSION Act as it relates to VISN 23 HCBS program expansion. • Makes initial eligibility determinations, reassessments, and appeal decisions for clinical eligibly determinations. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities include: • Advanced skill in the application of the nursing process in the complex review and care planning for home and community-based services. • Expert nursing experience/practice: clinical assessment, judgment, treatment, coordination, and collaboration with various VA and non-VA departments, community agencies, and healthcare providers to ensure positive Veteran outcomes. Meets the Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development ,and Evidence Based Practice/Research nursing dimensions • Makes recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as needs and are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population. • Maintains flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled events, Veteran/team consultation and mentoring. • Maintains consistent and timely documentation of clinical work in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted program, facility, professional, and nursing service policies and procedures. • Shares knowledge and expertise about the scope of nursing practice and services provided across VISN 23. This is provided through direct consultation, mentorship, development of in-services and clinical training and leading by example. 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 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. CST Telework: Telework, if approved, will be on an Ad-Hoc basis only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Help Conditions of employment • U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. • 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. • Subject to background/security investigation. • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. • 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). • You may be required to serve a probationary period. • Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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.) Preferred Qualifications: • MSN • Geriatrics, Home Healthcare Experience preferred • VA community care/HBPC experience and interdisciplinary team experience is preferred 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/12808258. 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Additional information 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Expand Hide additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. A...