Summary

The Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) Home Care Program serves all SCI/D veterans within the SCI/D Center catchment area - on a consultative basis. Home visits are conducted for SCI/D veterans within a 100-mile radius of the SCI/D Center - or farther with the approval of the Chief - SCI/D. Telehealth modalities may be utilized to increase accessibility for veterans - as 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/12724274
• 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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight pulling and pushing
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking and standing up to 8 hours
• repeated bending
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• hearing aid permitted.

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to the following: Demonstrates a high level of clinical expertise - leadership - and creative approaches to management of the complex care of patients with Spinal Cord Injuries/Disorders
• Responsible for program development of the SCI/D Home Care program - in accordance with VA Directives - Handbooks and all applicable regulatory and accreditation standards
• Promotes personal growth - continuing education - collaborative working relationships - creative problem solving and flexibility to support SCI/D hub and spokes home care program expansion
• Ensures ongoing patient safety - dignity - and satisfaction
• Able to coordinate and lead activities geared towards maintaining and improving existing home care programs
• Takes initiative to develop new clinical home care programs in collaboration with the SCI/D Nurse Manager and SCI/D Chief - as the need arises
• Able to establish SCI/D Home Care program objectives - standards of care and standards of practice for SCI/D subspecialty clinical populations
• Maintains appropriate and timely documentation of patients' care and progress within the plan - in accordance with all applicable standards
• Complete assessment/screens for: nutrition - pain - tobacco use - alcohol - depression - fall risk - and dementia - etc
• Instruct patient/caregivers/families on fire safety
• fire alarms - extinguishers - and exits
• Perform proper infection control procedures including hand washing technique - bag technique - and protective equipment - disposal of hazardous waste - equipment care - and transport of items clean and dirty
• Assess and document patient's compliance with medication regimen
• Assess and document abnormal or non-therapeutic reactions to medications and initiate appropriate interventions
• Assess and document care of SCI/D patient utilizing the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
• Performs wound care according to treatment orders
• Instructs caregivers in proper techniques for turning and positioning patients.\\ Trains patient/caregivers in care for G-tubes
• Performs foley catheter changes
• Instructs patient/caregivers in proper care of in dwelling foley catheters - use of leg/bedside drainage bags - and monitoring of urine output and changes that could indicate an infection
• Instructs patients/caregivers in proper technique for in and out foley catheterization
• Screens - immunize and promote health activities
• Performs phlebotomy/transport of lab draws
• Completes required workload reports
• Coordinates outcome focused interdisciplinary care plan that includes team's assessments - interventions - evaluations and follow ups
• Implements appropriate nursing plan of care that reflects patient's functional capacity changes - living arrangements - and support systems
• Performs Care Management duties: timely completion of screening tools - referrals to other services coordination with VA/Community providers and assessments and documentation of patient/family education
• Reviews quality and performance measures for process improvement
• Selects methods for measuring quality of services - measures patient satisfaction and takes appropriate corrective actions based on program evaluation results
• Provides direct patient care - conducts follow-up assessments - provides patient/caregiver education and training in the home setting - collaborating with team members both within and outside of the SCI/D service in order to coordinate care
• Travels to patient homes and private care facilities within a 100-mile radius or further with SCI Chief approval on a frequent basis in order to implement care activities and conduct follow-up assessments in the patient's residence
• Conducts evaluations of home or institutionalized-living setting - focusing on safety and adequacy of available resources - with consideration for the patient's care needs
• Shares findings/concerns with appropriate SCI/D team members and other agencies as appropriate
• Maintains compliance with all rules and regulations related to the issuance and operation of VA vehicles and mileage/receipt logs
• 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: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required