Registered Nurse PRN Referral Coordination Team

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Wichita Kansas is currently recruiting for an intermittent Registered Nurse (RN) to help serve our Veterans via the Referral Coordination Team (RCT).

The Phone Triage Nurse provides telephone-based nursing assessment triage and care coordination for patients across 20 specialty clinics on an as-needed basis. Under the direction of the Nurse Supervisor this Registered Nurse delivers professional nursing care to a diverse patient population in accordance with established organizational policies departmental procedures and applicable state and federal regulations. The Phone Triage Nurse serves as a primary liaison between patients clinical staff and providers across all supported specialties ensuring safe efficient and effective patient care in a high-volume multi-specialty telephone addition this role includes triaging incoming specialty referrals reviewing referral requests assessing clinical urgency and appropriateness verifying required documentation and routing referrals in accordance with established referral guidelines and protocols.

As a PRN position this role requires flexibility along with clinical versatility to move fluidly between general call triage and specialty referral triage depending on operational need. Given the breadth of specialties supported this role also requires exceptional organizational skills and the ability to rapidly shift between distinct clinical protocols depending on the specialty clinic involved.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Executing a streamlined approach to receiving triaging and directing timely coordinated care.
• Possessing the knowledge of the internal referral care process clinical review criteria utilization management standards clinical documentation requirements community care regulations and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) standards and guidelines.
• Use of nursing knowledge and systems theory to assess organize facilitate and guide Veterans through their full range of care options including internal/direct care in Veterans Affairs (VA) and care in the community.
• Servicing as a liaison to both internal and community providers and is responsible for managing the care of the Veteran throughout the consult process.
• Supporting the medical centers mission to improve timely access to care empower Veterans to make more informed care decisions and ensure eligible Veterans who want to receive care in the community are referred and scheduled into the community.
• Triage incoming referrals discuss available care options provide scheduling guidance and be a resource within the service.
• Guiding Veterans through their full range of care options including internal/direct care in VA and care in the community utilizing a national standardized triage tool.
• Serving as the liaison between ordering or referring VA providers and specialty care services by clinically triaging consults or referrals to confirm the appropriate care is requested and all necessary pre-work and tests are completed.
• Complying with use of health information solutions that serve to store exchange and track referral care information.
• Working collaboratively with the Office of Integrated Veteran Care to triage Request for Services (RFS) to promote in house service access.
• Supporting colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe quality nursing care.
• Fostering a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
• Evaluating outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals groups and populations.
• Documenting outcomes at the program or service level.
• Other duties as assigned.

Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Work Schedule: Intermittent based on the needs of the clinic and/or departments.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
Pay Schedule: NF01
Note: Salary is pro-rated based on actual intermittent hours worked.

• 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.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.

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 masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors 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: I Level IDelivers 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 IIDemonstrates 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 IIIDemonstrates 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 Masters degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Masters degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.Nurse IIDemonstrates 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 Masters 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 IIIExecutes 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 Masters 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.

Preferred Experience: 1-2 years of experience in emergency ICU urgent care or med-surg settings and strong clinical assessment and judgment skills. Candidates should be able to manage multiple calls and protocols in a fast-paced environment while working independently and communicating effectively. Additional preferred experience includes ambulatory outpatient care telephone triage or telehealth and exposure to various specialty areas.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.