Optometrist

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care you will operate in a model with three core elements seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veterans community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor Americas Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System seeks a full time outpatient clinical Optometrist. The Optometrist functions as an independent practitioner exercising initiative and judgement in day-to-day activities. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Perform eye care and ancillary testing with full exercise of their credentials and clinical privileges.
• Considers age of the patient when performing health care as it relates to functional capacity/limitations ability to understand and follow directions provide objective self assessment of past medical condition and treatment appropriate to the overall treatment goals and plans.
• Enter accurate complete timely progress notes for each episode of care into the patients electronic record.
• Demonstrates knowledge and maintains standards in the use of reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment(RME).
• Responsible for the proper use maintenance and calibration of specialized equipment used in the assessment and care of patients.
• Adhere to safety health and infection control standards regulations and work practices as well as ergonomic standards. Report unsafe conditions to supervisor and/or appropriate officials.
• Assist in orientation of new staff and will provide patient and family education including informed consent.
• Assist with teaching of medical students who rotate through the VANWIHCS.

Conditions of employment

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

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.

Optometrist Basic Requirements

Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.

Licensure and Registration. Optometrists must possess a current full and unrestricted license to practice optometry and maintain a current registration in a state territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active current licensure.

Residency Training or Comparable Experience. Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program or have comparable experience as described below:
(1)Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE in the list published for the year the residency was completed.
OR
(2)Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.