Registered Nurse - Clinical Nurse Consultant

The Clinical Consultant RN supports Community Living Center nursing leadership in facilitating patient care through implementation of evidence-based practices and evaluation of effectiveness of practice. The CCRN may serve in a coordination role and executes position responsibilities that assists with collaboration between community and Veterans Integrated Systems Network (VISN) healthcare personnel in the transition of Veterans through the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system

The Clinical Nurse Consultant RN, Nurse II executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to the management of complex patient care. Care will be provided in the least restrictive, most cost-effective manner, through use of inpatient/CLC utilization management criteria, clinical practice guidelines, and clinical pathways. Assists with collaboration between community and Veterans Integrated Systems Network (VISN) healthcare personnel in the transition of Veterans through the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system.

They demonstrate performance and leadership skills that impact the standard of care for all patients throughout the continuum of care. They are responsible for completing services within the organization that meet the requirements of National Directives. Duties include but are not limited to: Coordinates and facilitates resident admissions and discharges on the CLC unit, including admission assessments, discharge planning, and transitions of care to home, community, or other VA/community.

Completes MDS (Minimum Data Set / RAI) interviews and assessments accurately and within required timeframes, ensuring compliance with CLC regulatory and VHA documentation requirements on an as needed basis. Participates in and may lead interdisciplinary treatment team conferences, contributing to goal setting, care planning, and evaluation of resident progress toward rehabilitation goals. Conducts chart, documentation, and clinical practice audits; analyzes findings; and participates in performance improvement activities to improve compliance and outcomes for the immediate practice setting.

Serves as a clinical resource for the management of complex, high-acuity, or behaviorally challenging residents, consistent with PMDB principles and safe patient handling protocols. Provides quality and performance measures analysis and reporting of trends and systems issues through the utilization of the nursing process. Responsible for the triage and care coordination of complex residents, works closely with Veterans to ensure smooth transitions of care to home, community, or VA facilities and care related to referrals, improvement meetings, and service meetings.

Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to improve the delivery of patient care. Must be poised and articulate in communicating with all parties involved in the delivery of care, to include the Veteran, family, medical staff, and community partners. Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs, condition, and safety of the patient. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.

Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team. Applies the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, and appropriate nursing judgment to ensure positive patient outcomes. Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain evidence-based-practice. Provides direct patient care and assumes charge nurse responsibilities as needed to meet unit staffing, census, and acuity demands.

Preferred experience: MSN, CNL or CRRN certification is a plus, leadership experience, 3-5 years long term care or rehabilitation experience. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: 0730-1600 Monday - Friday (tour may be negotiable after orientation and is subject to change based on the needs of the facility) Compressed/Flexible: Compressed schedule may be available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program.

Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program.

Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13111368.

Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.

An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.

Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.

Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as long periods of continued walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to: significant amounts of time standing, assisting assigned patients utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.