Summary

The SCI/D Service Home Care (HC) Program is a special PACT program designed for Veterans living with SCI/D - Multiple Sclerosis - and ALS which impact their health and functioning on a daily basis. These Veterans - mostly homebound - have difficulty making - keeping or travelling to outpatient primary care clinics because of the severity of their illness(es). Ongoing visits are made - in person or by video to home technology as clinically appropriate.

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/12746172
• 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: See Handbook 5019 Preferred Experience: Knowledge of managing multiple patients plans of care simultaneously is required
• Great communication - interpersonal skills - problem solving and critical thinking mandatory.1-2 years of Homecare and case management preferred
• Knowledge of the care for a patient with a Spinal Cord Injury - Multiple Sclerosis and ALS highly recommended.

Duties

• The Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Homecare Program Nurse will be based primary in the Toms River and Hamilton CBOC with occasional travel to the East Orange VAMC
• Travel is required to and from veterans' homes and within the facilities of the NJ Health Care System for training and meetings as required
• Duties include but are not limited to: Provide care coordination primarily for Veterans on the SCI/D Home Care Program Case management and collaboration with private sector hospitals to retrieve medical records for continuity of care
• Nurse will be required to train with specialized SCI-D Nurses on the inpatient ward and outpatient clinic
• Traveling to East Orange - NJ on occasion for meetings and training will be required
• Travel to Veteran homes in New Jersey VISN 2 catchment areas to provide nursing care services that includes: nursing assessments - follow up nursing care interventions - to collect labs specimens via venipuncture - performing wound and/or other cultures as needed - catheterizing patients for urine collection and other reasons - medication reconciliation and education/ pill boxing - reviewing fall risk and education on fall prevention for patients and caregivers - providing education on safe home oxygen use - use of glucometers - education on end of life GOCC and review of Advance Directives and Life sustaining treatment preferences - basic home safety and infection control - fire and safety prevention education and reinforcement - pain management strategies - suicide risk assessment and prevention education - emergency management - care coordination via home telehealth (CCHT) - clinical video to home telehealth (CVT) and Virtual Video Care (VVC) via video to home technologies approved by the VA
• Be an active participant in case conferences conducted to set up treatment plans and nursing interventions according to patient /caregiver problems identified and to evaluate outcome of nursing and other interventions
• Performs role of patient advocate to promote wellbeing of the patients
• Performs telephone screening and/or inpatient or outpatient visits to patients to review admission and/or discharge criteria for the Home Care Program
• Provides coverage for other nurses on the SCI/D Home Care program as needed and/or assigned
• Takes part in training and orientation of newly hired nurses to the HC program
• Collaborates with other VA programs - state - local community agencies - and Veteran Service Organizations to access points of care and utilize methods to enhance health care choices of Veterans Performs outreach activities through informational sessions with and outside the VA
• Assists in organizing outreach activities in and outside the VA Coordinates/collaborates with other VAMCs and Non-VA departments - agencies and /or healthcare providers to ensure patient needs are met
• 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: 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized