Primary Care APRNNP PACT (West)

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in Primary Care Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality timeliness and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provides advanced clinical practice consultation and management. The NP practices to the full extent of their education training and certification. Core functions are outlined in the clinical privileges that correspond with this position.
The NP has prescriptive authority for a panel of patients or program as indicated by their position.

The Primary Care Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team manages the care of outpatients in the Ambulatory Care Service as a Primary Care Provider as part of a Patient Aligned Care Team.

The Primary Care Nurse Practitioner is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients.

Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to:

• Independently manages patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice.
• Delivers direct care and provides care coordination to patients in multiple modalities including in-person virtual secure messaging and telephone.
• Orders and interprets labs tests and diagnostic studies.
• Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions
• Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services.
• Provides comprehensive assessment diagnostic work-up and clinic intervention including comprehensive patient assessment health history physical examination and patient education to Veterans in the primary care setting.
• Manages chronic conditions evaluates and treats inter-current medical conditions.
• Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Performs a variety of disease prevention related activities including gender and age specific screenings mental health screenings and health promotion activities.
• Screens evaluates and treats uncomplicated common mental health disorders including depression and common addictions with referrals made to mental health providers for further evaluation and treatment as appropriate.
• Demonstrates leadership and collaborates with a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) to provide accessible comprehensive coordinated continuous care to an assigned panel of patients.
• Hands off communication to and from primary care and specialty services emergency
  department and inpatient providers within the VA and the community.
• Reviews non-VA records incorporating information into the ongoing plan of care.
• Acts as surrogates for absent primary care providers when needed to include review of
  electronic health record view alerts.
• Regularly attends primary care meetings.
• Completes documentation (note encounters alerts) in a timely manner in accordance
  with facility policy. All administrative work should be completed in a timely fashion.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).

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 and Certification:
  • 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 Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty 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.

• 1 year of Primary Care experience preferred

• 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.