Advanced Practice Nurse (Primary Care Nurse Practitioner)

Veterans Health Administration • Colorado Springs, CO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Nurse (Primary Care Nurse Practitioner) provides primary care to Veterans as a PACT provider covering for other providers. The position works within a multidisciplinary Patient-Aligned Care Team (PACT), a medical-home model, and delivers comprehensive, collaborative same-day and continuity care to a panel of Veterans through face-to-face and telehealth modalities, using available tools such as registries for population health management. The nurse practitioner assesses, plans, implements, collaborates on, and evaluates patient care; provides team leadership and appropriate delegation; and supports team performance improvement and sustainment. Care areas include pain management, addiction treatment, mental health, women's health, chronic disease management, and geriatric care. The role also includes patient and family education and coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self-management, as appropriate to the PACT member's expertise and training. The position ensures same-day access to face-to-face and telephone visits during regular clinic hours and reviews clinical and performance data with the team to improve care processes.

This is an open continuous announcement. Applications remain on file through January 31, 2027, and eligible applicants may be referred monthly as vacancies arise. The position is not virtual, and telework is not available. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized. The role may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; approved awards may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. EDRP applications must be submitted within four months of appointment, and former EDRP participants are ineligible.

The position requires a graduate nursing degree (post-master's certificate, master's, or doctoral degree) and an active, current, full, unrestricted nurse practitioner license and qualifying board certification, subject to the stated graduate nurse technician exception. Nurse II is the entry grade and requires no experience beyond the basic education requirement. Nurse III requires one year of specialized APN experience equivalent to Nurse II. The work has significant physical demands, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, and assisting with patient transfers.

Requirements

• Graduate of a professional nursing school accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time the program was completed; foreign nursing education must have its nurse practitioner degree equivalency validated by an accepted evaluation agency.
• A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except as addressed by the stated temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment provision.
• Maintain full and current basic board certification as an FNP, ANP, AGPCNP, or GNP from ANCC, AANPCB, or another nationally recognized certifying body in the area of academic preparation.
• For Nurse III: one year of specialized APN experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level. Nurse II requires no experience beyond the basic education requirement.
• Demonstrate evidence-based clinical practice, patient-panel or population management, effective teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, professional communication, and commitment to professional development; Nurse III additionally requires leadership and experience managing complex client care and leading improvements.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, English proficiency for direct patient care, applicable Selective Service registration, background/security requirements, pre-employment drug screening if selected for a testing-designated position, and pre-employment physical evaluation requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Be able to perform the position's physical activities without restriction, including patient repositioning and transfers; use mechanical devices for heavy or difficult lifts when available.

Nice To Haves

• Three years of primary care clinical experience.
• Experience with women's health, mental health, and chronic pain.
• Previous VA or military experience.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, collaborate on, and evaluate the needs and care of primary care patients as a PACT provider covering for other providers.
• Deliver comprehensive, collaborative same-day and continuity care to a panel of Veterans through face-to-face or telehealth modalities.
• Use available tools, including registries, to support effective population health management.
• Provide leadership to the team and share delegation of appropriate care and care processes with appropriate team members.
• Provide compassionate, informed customer service to Veterans, family members, and staff.
• Provide patient-centered care in pain management, addiction treatment, mental health, women's health, chronic disease management, and geriatric care.
• Participate in team performance improvement and sustainment activities to optimize team efficiency and patient care delivery.
• Provide health education and coaching on wellness, disease prevention, chronic care management, and self-management skills to patients and their personal support persons, as appropriate to expertise or training.
• Review clinical and performance data with the team and contribute to continuous improvement of critical team processes.
• Ensure same-day access to face-to-face and telephone care visits during regular clinic hours.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level