Registered Nurse - Informaticist

Veterans Health Administration • Lexington, KY

1d

About The Position

The Nursing Informatics RN coordinates information, education, training, and technical support related to VISTA nursing modules and other clinical information systems used by Patient Care Services. The position works collaboratively with Information Management personnel, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, and LRC, applying nursing expertise and technical knowledge to support clinical systems and end users. The role may include designated primary assignments such as ADPAC or BCMA Coordinator, with coverage provided across these roles.

The incumbent coordinates, manages, implements, and maintains Patient Care Services computer programs and clinical application databases; collaborates with programmers to update software and troubleshoot hardware and software; manages user access; assesses staff needs and the impact of applications on patient care; and recommends system changes, enhancements, and computerization priorities. The role also supports performance improvement and data analytics, leads implementation and testing of VISTA nursing modules, and provides staff education and consultation on clinical information technology.

Additional duties include conducting computer-system audits, administering nursing-service SharePoint configurations and documents, maintaining contingency plans, assisting the BCMA Coordinator with system hardware and software, and working with personnel security to sponsor users for system setup and personal identity verification cards. The position reports to the Chief Nurse Specialty & Critical Care/Patient Care Services.

Requirements

• Graduate from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or meet an applicable education equivalency provision described in the announcement.
• Hold a current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be possible under the stated exception for candidates pursuing licensure.
• Demonstrate basic written and spoken English proficiency.
• Meet the education and professional nursing experience requirements for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• Meet the applicable scope, education, and dimension criteria for the assigned grade, including the relevant practice, patient-driven care, leadership, professional development, and evidence-based practice/research dimensions.
• Meet VA employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the stated exception, applicable background/security investigation, drug testing for testing-designated positions, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination.
• Complete a pre-placement physical examination and annual Employee Health requirements.
• Possess visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; be able to lift at least 50 pounds and perform the stated physical activities and duties.
• Be flexible and able to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities according to organizational needs.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or a master's degree in Nursing Informatics.
• Experience with Cerner.
• Experience with data analytics, such as SQL or coding.
• Project-management experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate information, education, training, and technical support related to VISTA nursing modules and other clinical information systems used by Patient Care Services.
• Collaborate with Information Management personnel, Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, LRC, and other services to integrate processes that support patient care and effective system use.
• Coordinate, manage, implement, and maintain Patient Care Services computer programs.
• Work with Information Management programmers to update software and troubleshoot hardware and software problems.
• Document the status and progress of nursing computer-program installations and training.
• Manage access codes and provide nursing staff with appropriate access to computer-program information and reports.
• Evaluate software and hardware programs and recommend future versions or local enhancements.
• Manage clinical-application databases and assess staff needs related to information systems.
• Coordinate, modify, implement, and evaluate information systems that support organizational processes and improve patient-care outcomes.
• Assess the impact and overall functioning of computer applications on patient care and nursing staff; recommend new or revised systems.
• Consult on the application of information technology to clinical practice.
• Assess, plan, implement, and continually evaluate information systems used by nursing and Patient Care Services staff.
• Participate in organizational performance-improvement activities and provide support with data analytics.
• Develop and propose strategies for changing automated information procedures that affect nursing care.
• Direct and coordinate implementation of VISTA nursing modules and research possible enhancements to other automated systems used in nursing practice.
• Test, verify, and update Nursing Package versions before activation and recommend procedural changes as appropriate.
• Evaluate Nursing VISTA software and recommend changes; define and prioritize nursing programs for computerization.
• Lead service-level opportunities to improve performance and facilitate application use by staff.
• Initiate or participate in staff-education planning to improve understanding and use of computer applications.
• Conduct computer-system audits, including VISTA key audits.
• Administer SharePoint for nursing service, including configurations and documents.
• Manage computer-system contingency plans and documentation.
• Assist the BCMA Coordinator with BCMA hardware, software, and maintenance.
• Work with personnel security and sponsor users for system setup and personal identity verification cards.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, consisting of 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree