Registered Nurse - Home Based Primary Care (HBPC)

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, AR

4h • Onsite

About The Position

The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based care and care coordination to Veterans in the HBPC Program. The nurse delivers direct patient care and oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting. Care includes home visits and Telehealth, intensive care management, coordination across the continuum of care, and support for patients and caregivers.

The nurse develops and coordinates patient care plans based on ongoing assessment and reassessment, works with an interdisciplinary team, monitors clinical outcomes, and helps Veterans access appropriate resources. The position requires driving to provide care in patients’ homes. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., subject to change based on service needs. Telework is available; this is not a virtual position.

Applicants must meet the nursing education and licensure requirements described in the announcement. A valid, unrestricted state driver’s license and a safe driving record are required. The announcement describes eligibility across Nurse I Levels I–III and Nurse II–III, with education and experience criteria varying by grade and level. Physical demands include heavy lifting and carrying, prolonged walking and standing, repeated bending, and other specified physical capabilities. The work environment may include indoor and outdoor settings, dust, moving machinery, water, close work with others, and protracted or irregular hours.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated bridge-program or foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• A valid, unrestricted state driver’s license and a safe driving record.
• Ability to meet the education and professional nursing experience criteria applicable to the assigned grade and level; requirements vary across Nurse I Levels I–III and Nurse II–III.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Completion of required pre-employment urinalysis, background/security investigation, online onboarding, and pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Ability to meet the stated physical requirements, including heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, prolonged walking and standing, repeated bending, and other listed physical capabilities.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Completion of all application requirements described in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate patient care plans, including ongoing assessment and reassessment, care planning, care coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of clinical outcomes.
• Coordinate and advocate for patients and caregivers across the continuum of care, supporting seamless transitions between care settings.
• Provide individualized education and support to patients and caregivers to optimize clinical outcomes and support quality-of-life decisions.
• Delegate and supervise care provided by licensed practical nurses and home health technicians, as applicable.
• Provide intensive care management for assigned patients and link Veterans with resources.
• Coordinate resources to support comprehensive care, avoid duplication of services, and streamline staff interactions and services.
• Conduct home assessments and develop treatment goals and plans based on comprehensive interdisciplinary assessments of patients and caregivers.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care meetings to develop individual care plans for an assigned panel of patients.
• Implement care plans through home visits or Telehealth as indicated.
• Review progress toward goals with the team quarterly or more frequently when a patient’s condition changes.
• Assess and support caregivers’ ability to continue providing care.
• Assess and document clinical findings for neurological, cardiac/vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skin systems; report abnormalities and incorporate findings into treatment plans.
• Coordinate with other healthcare providers to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate treatment interventions.
• Coordinate transitions from outpatient care to inpatient or emergency department settings through communication with outpatient facilities and the interdisciplinary team.
• Document care in accordance with HBPC Standard Operating Procedures.
• Administer medications safely and accurately.
• Identify patients at high risk of harm to themselves and follow established suicide-risk procedures.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, family members, and the interdisciplinary team.
• Handle telecare calls within the RN’s scope, refer calls requiring a physician response, act as a liaison between physicians and patients, discuss concerns with physicians, and follow up with patients.
• Perform venipuncture in the home in accordance with competency; review laboratory and test reports, alert physicians to significant findings, and assist with follow-up and treatment.
• Identify patient and family learning needs and provide education using appropriate teaching strategies or alternate communication methods.
• Understand and apply the legal and ethical implications of the Patient Self Determination Act, Patient Bill of Rights, Advance Directives, and patient-abuse protections; serve as a resource when ethical issues arise and adhere to Medical Center ethics and compliance policies.

Benefits

• 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 and a 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
• Education Level: Associate degree