Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs is accepting applications for a Registered Nurse: Community Living Center (CLC) Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC) position with the Quality - Safety - and Value unit at the VA Medical Center in Batavia - NY.

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/12960847
• 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: Resident Assessment Instrument/MDS experience
• Experience completing clinical surveillance reviews
• Ability to lead quality improvement initiatives BSN Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear and 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
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders.

Duties

• The CLC Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC) Registered Nurse (RN): Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex resident care
• Collaborates in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for CLC residents
• Leads 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)
• Identifies CLC Interdisciplinary Team members to conduct the interrater reliability reviews - which must be conducted - at a minimum - quarterly
• Collaborates 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
• Completes 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
• Transmits RAI/MDS Assessments to the Austin Information Technology Center
• Communicates 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
• Ensures - 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
• Educates CLC staff on the RAI/MDS process to ensure appropriate completion
• Serves 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
• Assists with continued survey readiness for the annual unannounced survey process and Interim Quality Oversight survey readiness for the CLC
• Ensures the CLC meets regulatory guidelines for scheduling quarterly and comprehensive MDS assessments as outlined in the MDS guidelines
• Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• 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 - Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized