Critical Care Nurse Practitioner

Veterans Health Administration • Palo Alto, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Nurse Certified Nurse Practitioner practices in Nursing Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and advancement of the Veterans Affairs mission. The Nurse Practitioner provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management, practicing to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. Core functions are outlined in the clinical privileges corresponding to the position, and the Nurse Practitioner has prescriptive authority for a patient panel or program as indicated by the position.

The role requires leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration. At Nurse II level, the Nurse Practitioner provides evidence-based care, manages a patient panel, evaluates care delivery using research and evidence-based practice, contributes to improvements in care quality and timeliness, collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, develops expertise, and promotes professional communication and teamwork. Nurse III-level qualifications additionally require one year of specialized Nurse Practitioner experience equivalent to Nurse II and leadership in managing complex client care, implementing improvements, and leading interdisciplinary initiatives.

The work schedule is 1900–0730. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. The position requires visual acuity, hearing, speech, and manual dexterity; prolonged or repeated walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; and may involve transferring patients or objects, exposure to infected patients and contaminated materials, protective clothing, and occasional contact with combative patients. The incumbent must be able to work effectively in stressful situations and adjust priorities based on patient needs.

Requirements

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE when the program was completed, or meet the stated foreign-education equivalency requirements.
• A post-master’s certificate or master’s or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted Nurse Practitioner license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Maintain full and current board certification in a clinical specialty from ANCC, AANPCB, or another nationally recognized certifying body in the area of academic preparation.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• For Nurse III qualification, meet the basic Nurse Practitioner education requirements and have one year of specialized Nurse Practitioner experience equivalent to Nurse II. No experience is required for Nurse II.
• Be a U.S. citizen, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment drug testing, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; complete onboarding and application requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and meet annual Employee Health requirements.
• Meet the physical demands of the position, including potentially strenuous activity, carrying people and equipment, extended walking and standing, and working in stressful or arduous conditions.

Responsibilities

• Manage a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions.
• Develop and implement individualized plans to achieve optimal population health and disease management.
• Demonstrate leadership and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team.
• Order and interpret laboratory tests, other tests, and diagnostic studies.
• Prescribe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
• Initiate referrals and consultations to specialty services.
• Provide advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management.
• Deliver evidence-based care and evaluate care delivery using research and evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to or lead changes that improve the quality and timeliness of patient care, as appropriate to grade level.
• Acquire and disseminate knowledge and skills to develop expertise, as appropriate to grade level.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package for eligible employees and their families.
• Annual leave accrual for full-time nurses at 8 hours per full biweekly pay period.

What This Job Offers

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