Spinal Cord Injury Nurse Clinician

Duties:

• Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical
  skills.
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education self management
  and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders Unit and is primarily responsible for applying the
  nursing process to the care of Veteran patients in both an outpatient and inpatient setting.
• Possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within
  a collaborative interdisciplinary practice setting which will then enable effective
  implementation of health promotion and prevention practices by nursing staff and attainment
  of optimal levels of functioning and/or support of all nursing employees.
• Possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within
  a collaborative interdisciplinary practice setting which will then enable effective
  implementation of health promotion and prevention practices by nursing staff and attainment
  of optimal levels of functioning and/or support of all nursing employees.
• The Nurse Clinician is accountable for educating staff on current nursing practice and treatment modalities of patients with acute medical and Chronic SCI/D problems.
• Accountable for the assurance of continued professional nursing competence which shapes and guides the nursing profession.
• Coordinates educational programs orientation and training activities and in-services for all nursing staff and affiliate students at the unit.
• The standards of practice for Nurse Clinicians include assessment diagnosis and analyses to determine target audience and learner needs identification of educational outcomes planning
  implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of patients served in the assigned area of practice to include understanding changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult geriatric population.
• Performs all required elements of a nursing assessment including but not limited to physical examination assessment of readiness to learn psychosocial assessment functional assessment and utilization of patient/family specific assessment scales as required.
• Responsible for direct patient care ensuring that the appropriate plan of care is implemented according to the standards of regulatory agencies such as JC OSHA and VHA Directives.
• Manages patient care in an astute manner which protects patients safety and promotes positive patient outcomes. Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patients status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patients requirements relative to their age-specific needs providing care as considered necessary.
• The Nurse I Level 1 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and
  accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks
  consistent with the nurses obligation to provide optimal care.
• The Nurse I Level 2 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent evidence-based care to assigned patients with oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• The Nurse I Level 3 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent evidence-based care to patients with oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• The Nurse II Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• The Nurse III Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership experience and creative approaches to management of complex patient care.

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: Monday - Friday Rotating weekends.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

• 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.
• 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.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Experience: Preferred experience Masters degreed nurse educator and/or spinal cord injury experience.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity keen hearing clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking standing stooping sitting bending pulling and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical
inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations operative/invasive
procedures or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium dementia or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature flexible sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements such as annual TB screening or testing as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated.