Nurse Practitioner Primary Care

Duties of the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner:

• An Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) has prescriptive authority and provides care for an identified patient panel in collaboration with a physician.
• Core functions include diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health care problems performing adult care check-ups and prescribing medication and treatments.
• Nurse Practitioners will diagnose and manage minor trauma including suturing.
• Nurse Practitioners are responsible for health promotion and disease prevention education to patients.
• Primary providers in the outpatient setting are typically assigned a panel of patients to manage. Panel size at this time is determined by utilizing VHA PCMM software. Panel size is determined at the National level through a complex formula which extracts local information regarding acuity of assigned patients available support staff number of exam rooms etc. Each providers panel size is specific to their practice and setting.
• Typical work hours are Monday to Friday 8-4.30 PM.
• Alternative work hours if desired should be agreed upon at the time of joining. Each full time provider is required to work a minimum of 80 hrs per pay period (every two weeks) unless on leave status
• Collateral duties are expected and may include management of a subsection of primary care patients the subsection may be defined either by a disease status (e.g. agent orange patients) or demographic status (women veterans OIF/OEF veterans etc). These duties are designated at the time of joining but occasionally during the course of employment participation in special projects pertinent to assigned section may be necessary as the projects become available through strategic or other initiatives.
• All Nurse Practitioners need to follow departmental and VHA policies for leave and attendance and will work within Title 38 appointment guidelines. Leave should be requested in as much advance as possible to minimize patient cancellations. All unscheduled absences must be properly communicated and patients should be rescheduled within time frame as specified in departments policies.
• Nurse Practitioners will work within their privileges at all times.

General: All Medical Staff are expected to comply with CPRS Computer Security and Privacy Act Statements. All Nurse Practitioners must complete all annual required training as determined by VHA or Medical Center Policy. All providers are to adhere to OPM (Office of Personnel Management) VHA Medical Staff By-Laws and VHA/Medical Center policies and regulations.

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: FT M-F per clinic hours.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• English Language accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Qualifications

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-masters certificate or masters 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 - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification as a Nurse Practitioner from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

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) II:

Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(B).

• Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel population or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care.
  • Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

• 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