The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is accountable for the management and evaluation of a panel of patients under his/her care. The NP provides comprehensive preventative and wellness care, as well as the spectrum of acute, episodic, chronic and end-of-life care to Veterans. This position is located at the Kankakee CBOC, Kankakee, IL (which is a Clinic of Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital) Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. [The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected.] Preferred Experience: Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP), or Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN), or Post Graduate Nurse Practitioner course with didactic and supervised clinical experience. National certification as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) by a VA-approved certifying body - Required. Basic Life Saving (BLS) Certification - Required 2-3 Years of experience in primary care practice is preferred Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The positions requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Nurse Practitioner (NP) uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to work collaboratively with the Teamlet (Patient, RN Care Manager and Medical Support Assistant) and larger Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to the patient) in developing the patient-driven holistic care plan for life. The NP will provide primary care, to include Women's health care, for a panel of approximately 900 patients , will participate and maintain clinical and educational activities within Primary Care/General Medicine at Hines to stay grounded and relevant in the role. Women's Health Care updated training for VA care delivery will be provided as needed. Responsible for all functions which fall under the scope of care of Primary Care. The NP is a member of the Teamlet providing diagnosis and treatment. The NP provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management, prevention, and wellness, based on the patient's goals. The NP is prepared in advanced practice across the health continuum. This practice includes independent and interdependent decision-making and direct accountability for clinical judgment. The NP role includes participating in and use of research, development and implementation of health policy, leadership, education, case management and consultation. The NP provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management, prevention, and wellness, based on the patient's goals. The NP is responsible to the primary care manager and/or the designated supervisor. Applies the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to systems or processes at the Teamlet level to provide patient-driven holistic care. Provide nursing and medical services to Veterans and their families/caregivers in both individual and group settings. Emphasize health promotion and disease prevention; diagnose and manage acute, chronic and episodic illnesses. NP practice dimensions may include but are not limited to ordering, conducting, supervising and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests and prescription of pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic therapies. Teaches and counsels Veterans, families/caregivers and groups. Demonstrates leadership by involving the Teamlet and larger Team in providing customized, evidence-based patient-driven care. Designs, implements and revises interdisciplinary patient-driven holistic care plan for life. Integrates biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, cultural, population and age-specific patient characteristics to provide holistic care. Educates and encourages patient self-management. Serves as a resource and advocate in the protection of patient and family rights. Participates in system review to critically evaluate and assess resource utilization and safety issues with care teams and updates life plan accordingly. Effects change through advocacy for the profession, Teamlet, extended Teamlet and the patient. Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all patient information, including electronic, print, and conversations. Applies skills to promote patient self-management toward patient-driven holistic care plan for life. Provides patient-driven care in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner, using evidence-based principles. Is proficient in fundamental management of acute and chronic medical conditions Utilziation and recognition of appropriate consultative services Proficient in employing diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans per the approved standarard treatment guidelines. 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 thru Friday, DAY SHIFT - Various tours of duty available Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
