Registered Nurse - Care Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration • Clarksville, TN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Care Coordinator Registered Nurse works in the Surgical Specialty Pain Clinic at the Clarksville Outpatient Clinic in Clarksville, Tennessee. The nurse provides competent, evidence-based care and coordinates patient management, education, self-management, and discharge or disposition planning across inpatient and outpatient settings. The role requires deliberate planning, critical thinking, sound clinical judgment, and the ability to manage complex situations and competing priorities.

The Care Coordinator helps Veterans, family members, and caregivers access appropriate services for complex health care needs, including acute, chronic, multiple, catastrophic, or life-threatening illnesses; combat stress; traumatic brain injury residuals; community adjustment; addictions; and other health problems. The nurse coordinates care among multiple providers and care sites, supporting continuity between VA and community programs. The role also addresses patients’ and families’ psychosocial, nursing, and medical needs as part of an interdisciplinary care team.

The position evaluates care and outcomes, expedites care from diagnosis through treatment, manages laboratory and radiology results and communicates relevant information to providers, and uses databases to track patients across episodes of care. It includes advocating for holistic care through patient and family education and provider interaction, and implementing education plans suited to patient needs. Other duties may be assigned. The work schedule is based on service needs, and ad-hoc telework may be available.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent education as described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Ability to perform the listed physical requirements, including frequent bending, lifting 30 pounds or more, stooping, climbing, twisting, reaching, and standing or walking for extended periods.
• Ability to care for Veterans with medical and psychiatric illnesses who may exhibit unpredictable behavior or may be physically or verbally assaultive.
• Required visual acuity, color distinction, and hearing ability to respond to alarms; a hearing aid is permitted.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation and, for tentatively selected applicants in testing-designated positions, pre-employment urinalysis.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel member.
• May be required to serve a probationary period and complete the online onboarding and application requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care using age-specific components.
• Coordinate patient care, education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Provide patient management, care coordination, and discharge or disposition planning in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Help Veterans, families, and caregivers identify appropriate options and services for complex health care needs.
• Coordinate care with multiple providers across levels and sites of care, including VA and community programs, to support continuity.
• Address patients’ and families’ psychosocial, nursing, and medical needs through participation in the interdisciplinary care team.
• Coordinate and expedite care from diagnosis through treatment.
• Analyze and manage laboratory and radiology results and provide information to providers.
• Use databases to track patient care across episodes and support population management.
• Evaluate care and outcomes to ensure services are timely and appropriate.
• Advocate for holistic care through patient and family education and provider interaction.
• Implement education plans that meet patient care needs.
• Follow established procedures, policies, and guidelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.
• Regular salary increases and potential performance awards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree