Summary

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) practices in the Surgical Intensive Care Service - under the supervision of surgeons and anesthesiologists - as a member of the Anesthesia service line - to provide a full range of critical care services emphasizing quality - timeliness - and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission.

Qualifications

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)

Basic Requirements:

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner
• (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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)
• NOTE: Foreign Education
• Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs - the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency - such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current - full - active - and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active - current - full - and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Basic Board Certification - Either Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN) or Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) certification
• NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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
• The following Scope - Education and Experience - and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III: Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice
• Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care - demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel - population - or program
• Outcome Focus
• Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations
• Leadership
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel - population - or program
• Professional Development
• Acquires knowledge and skills - then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility
• Professionalism/Collegiality
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel - population - or program level
• Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior - promoting cooperation and teamwork Preferred Experience: Experience in a Surgical ICU or perioperative care setting for patients that have had cardiac surgery - major thoracic surgery - major vascular surgery - major general surgery - oncologic surgery - urology and ENT surgery
• Experience in post-anesthesia care
• Ability to work mostly weekday shifts - with occasional flexibility to cover night shifts or weekend day shifts once or twice per month.

Duties

• The Surgical CNS provides advanced clinical practice - consultation - and management of primary surgical and perioperative patients with acute or high risk morbidity
• Works in collaboration with an attending led team that is also staffed by surgery and anesthesia residents
• Duties include but are not limited to: Independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice
• Provides assessments - evaluations - and care coordination of Veterans
• Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management
• Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the team
• Orders and interprets labs - tests - and diagnostic studies
• Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions
• Aides in health promotion - disease prevention - and health education
• Initiates referrals/consults for services - serving as a VA and community liaison
• Provides education to patients and their families
• Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes
• Provides consultation regarding Veterans with surgical specialty problems
• Meet standards and regulatory requirements - such as Joint Commission - Performance Measures - and Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in planning - implementation - and evaluation of surgical care for Veterans
• Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - and Excellence
• 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: Typically 10 hour shifts per week x 4 per week
• mostly day shifts - though occasional ability to do night shifts once or twice per month is desirable
• Compressed/Flexible: Yes
• shifts can be adjusted per staffing needs in the SICU - taking into account concurrent attending and resident staffing
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized