Nurse Practitioner - Thoracic Surgery

Veterans Health Administration • Madison, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Nurse Certified Nurse Practitioner practices in Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Transplant Service, providing advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management in support of the Veterans Affairs mission. In collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, the NP manages patients in thoracic surgery and pulmonary transplant specialties, providing comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, education, and medication management for surgical and nonsurgical care pathways. The role may include inpatient and outpatient care and virtual consultations in collaboration with Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Transplant staff. The NP works across surgery, medicine, nursing, and other professional service lines, practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, and has prescriptive authority for an assigned patient panel or program. This is a licensed independent practitioner role providing evidence-based care.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is available, but this is not a virtual position. VA offers competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential performance awards, 50 days of paid time off annually, federal pension and 401(k) benefits, and federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from an approved school of professional nursing and hold a post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted advanced practice nurse license to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Maintain current basic board certification as an FNP, ANP, AGPCNP, ACNP, AGACNP, or GNP from ANCC, AANPCB, or another nationally recognized certifying body in the area of academic preparation.
• Demonstrate basic written and spoken English proficiency for direct patient care.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, pre-employment requirements, and physical evaluation; applicants selected for testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Register with Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• For Nurse III qualification, have one year of specialized Nurse Practitioner experience equivalent to Nurse II.
• Be able to meet the physical demands associated with nursing duties, including direct patient care and potentially prolonged walking, standing, or sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling.

Nice To Haves

• Two to three years of experience as an advanced practice provider in any field.
• One to two years of experience in thoracic surgery, pulmonology, or transplant medicine.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice.
• 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.
• Educate patients and their families.
• Assess and adjust plans of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Provide comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, education, and medication management for patients in surgical and nonsurgical management pathways.
• Provide inpatient and outpatient care and, as applicable, complete virtual consultations in collaboration with Thoracic Surgery and Pulmonary Transplant staff.
• Exemplify the VA ICARE values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Specialty Section Chief and/or Administrative Supervisor.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, comprising 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and 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.

What This Job Offers

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