Registered Nurse (Maternity Care Coordinator)

Veterans Health Administration • Bronx, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The James J. Peters VA Medical Center is hiring a Registered Nurse (RN) Maternity Care Coordinator (MCC) for Women's Health. The MCC is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care using age-specific considerations and coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. The role follows established policies and guidelines and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.

At the full performance level, the MCC coordinates care between VA and community maternity care providers and relevant VA and community specialists. The nurse collaborates with the local VA Medical Center's Office of Integrated Veteran Care on community-care referrals, and coordinates with VA providers, the Women Veterans Program Manager, and the Women's Health Medical Director. Responsibilities include facilitating maternity care for pregnant Veterans in inpatient psychiatric units or residential care programs; monitoring services and maternal and fetal outcomes; retrieving maternity-care and utilization statistics from VHA databases; and maintaining documented telephone contact with Veterans while they receive authorized community care.

The MCC informs Veterans about VA's authority to furnish newborn care and the need for other payment options for care beyond VA authorization. The nurse educates Veterans about local and community resources, helps ensure postpartum care is scheduled, and provides information about obtaining maternity care and health supplies through the VAMC. The MCC ensures referrals to appropriate specialists for positive screenings related to depression, intimate partner or domestic violence, military sexual trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder during pregnancy or postpartum.

The role advocates for holistic care through Veteran and family education and provider interaction, develops educational plans, evaluates care and outcomes, and supports timely and appropriate services. The nurse collaborates on policy, procedure, and guideline development and revision; provides constructive feedback and knowledge sharing to colleagues; fosters a safe environment supporting professional development; and evaluates evidence-based decisions and practice changes. The position documents broad and complex outcomes at the program or service level and demonstrates leadership in managing complex client care.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the listed education and foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a limited Graduate Nurse Technician exception for qualifying candidates pursuing licensure.
• Education and experience meeting the applicable VA Nurse grade and level requirements.
• For Nurse I, Level I: ADN or nursing diploma, with no additional professional nursing experience required.
• For Nurse I, Level II: ADN or nursing diploma plus one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level I, or a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.
• For Nurse I, Level III: ADN or nursing diploma plus two years of professional nursing experience, including one year equivalent to Nurse I, Level II; or BSN plus one year equivalent to Nurse I, Level II; or MSN or qualifying related master's degree with BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
• For Nurse II: one of the stated combinations of BSN, MSN, or doctoral education and professional or specialized nursing experience equivalent to the specified Nurse I level.
• For Nurse III: one of the stated combinations of master's or doctoral education and specialized nursing experience, including experience equivalent to Nurse II and satisfaction of Nurse III dimension requirements.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Selected applicants must undergo required drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation; applicants must provide acceptable identity documents and comply with applicable Selective Service requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Applicants may be required to serve a probationary period and must complete the application requirements specified in the announcement.
• Candidates who otherwise meet the education requirements but lack the required license may be eligible for the described temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment while pursuing licensure.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of experience as a Registered Nurse.
• Gynecology (GYN) experience; preferred.
• Maternity RN training will be provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care using all elements of the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation based on age-specific needs.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Coordinate care between VA and community maternity care providers and relevant VA and community specialists treating pregnant Veterans.
• Collaborate with the local VAMC Office of Integrated Veteran Care on referrals for community care.
• Coordinate with relevant VA providers, the Women Veterans Program Manager, and the Women's Health Medical Director.
• Facilitate maternity care for pregnant Veterans on inpatient psychiatric units or in residential care programs.
• Monitor service provision and track maternal and fetal outcomes.
• Retrieve local VAMC maternity-care and utilization statistics using VHA databases.
• Contact Veterans by telephone bimonthly while they are receiving care from a VA-authorized community provider and document the calls in the electronic health record.
• Inform Veterans about VA's authority to furnish newborn care and the need for other payment options for care beyond VA authorization.
• Educate Veterans about local and community resources, including the WIC Program.
• Ensure Veterans schedule postpartum care with their VA-authorized community provider.
• Provide information about the VAMC process for obtaining maternity care and health supplies, including breast pumps, maternity belts, disposable nursing pads, breast milk storage bags, lanolin cream, and intra-uterine devices.
• Ensure Veterans with positive pregnancy or postpartum screenings for depression, IPV/DV, MST, or PTSD are referred to appropriate specialists.
• Evaluate care and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate services.
• Advocate for holistic care through Veteran and family education and provider interaction, and implement educational plans tailored to Veteran care needs.
• Collaborate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues and nurses through knowledge sharing to promote safe, quality nursing care.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to health care professionals' development.
• Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations.
• Document broad and complex outcomes at the program or service level.
• Demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches in managing complex client care.

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.
• 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.
• One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. State or territory is accepted for licensure.

What This Job Offers

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