Registered Nurse - Outpatient, Nursing Specialty

Veterans Health Administration • Corpus Christi, TX

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care; administers medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines; and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.

The position provides outpatient nursing care in collaboration with patients, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team. It supports patient-driven, safe, efficient, evidence-based care; health promotion and risk reduction; care management for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions; and coordination with specialty and community resources. The nurse also serves as a clinical resource and educator for patients and the team, participates in huddles and improvement activities, and uses telehealth and other care modalities where appropriate.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for ad hoc telework but 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, or qualifying nursing education as described in the announcement; foreign nursing education must meet the stated equivalency requirements.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a Graduate Nurse Technician temporary appointment exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level. Depending on grade, qualifying education may include an ADN or nursing diploma, BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree, with applicable professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Submit transcripts when education is used to qualify; nursing degrees must be accredited by ACEN or CCNE.
• Meet applicable federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship unless an exception applies, required background/security investigation, and seasonal influenza vaccination program requirements.
• Complete required onboarding and application documentation; selected applicants may be required to serve a probationary period.
• For males born after December 31, 1959, Selective Service registration is required.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use.

Nice To Haves

• Direct patient care experience within the last five years.
• Ambulatory clinic experience within the last five years.
• One to three years of experience with electronic medical records and other applications.

Responsibilities

• Use the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet and larger team in meeting patient care needs.
• Provide patient and family education focused on self-management, prevention, wellness, Whole Health, disease processes, care plans, treatments, procedures, and clinic expectations.
• Assess, plan, implement, document, and evaluate care for a designated group of patients, applying advanced clinical knowledge.
• Assist with clinic procedures and monitor patients for adverse effects.
• Triage patient needs, collaborate with the team to identify and resolve care problems, and document interventions.
• Monitor patient progress using clinical standing orders, analyze variations, and initiate appropriate actions.
• Maintain knowledge of multidisciplinary resources, programs, and services; refer patients to community resources and coordinate appropriate social service, home care, and community-care referrals.
• Review care options, alternatives, risks, benefits, and services with patients and families, and seek consultation when indicated.
• Keep the patient's provider informed of progress, issues, and problems.
• Assess learning needs and support self-care skills, using appropriate resources and motivational interviewing when needed.
• Use approved standing orders and guidelines to support autonomous care, and promote cost-effective strategies, including non-face-to-face approaches such as telehealth.
• Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of patient information in electronic, printed, and verbal communications.
• Complete required web-based educational modules and complete and document secure messages within 72 hours; identify a surrogate, maintain escalation at 10% or less, and route messages to appropriate care lines as needed.
• Review Message Manager and help the team address pending alerts during the tour of duty, facilitating care and responding to callers within 48 hours or sooner when aware of a Veteran awaiting a response.
• Complete nursing notes in CPRS and close applicable encounter notes by the end of the daily tour of duty; address encounter reasons for visit, service connection, primary assignment, diagnoses, procedures, and ACSC conditions.
• Provide care management to patients with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, including record review and determining whether further education, nursing visits, or calls between provider visits are needed.
• Collaborate with High-Risk Care Coordinators, Home Telehealth, social work, and dieticians on referrals and care management.
• Foster professionalism, excellence, conflict resolution, and teamwork, and serve as a resource for support staff, peers, and clinical staff.
• Clean equipment according to RME policy after each use.
• Foster health promotion and risk reduction using SAIL, ACSC, HEDIS, SPARQ, EQm, DataMart, and EPRP measures and data.
• Participate in daily huddles and the electronic huddle tool (VMS), addressing processes, safety concerns, equipment and supplies, improvement projects, and announcements.
• Review charts before scheduled appointments, ensure results are available for providers, obtain medical records when applicable, and confirm appointment modality is suitable, including testing VA Video Connect when needed.
• Use warm handoff communication to coordinate care across levels.
• Support personalized, proactive, patient-driven care by helping develop personal health plans, listening and responding to patient goals, engaging patients in group appointments, encouraging telehealth, and creating an environment that benefits Veterans.
• Perform other tasks requested by providers or supervising nursing personnel within the scope of training and abilities, and adapt to changing work demands or assignments.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, including 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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