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The Registered Nurse Practitioner is a highly skilled practitioner who has advanced education and clinical training in providing patients with all aspects of patient care including diagnosis, treatment, and consultation. The NP in this position functions as a psychiatrist would regarding diagnosing, examining, evaluating and manage psychiatric patients, as well as being a Case Manager for the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Nurse Practitioners. A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. [The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected] Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires Heavy Lifting, 45 pounds & over; heavy carrying, 45 pounds& over; straight pulling (4 hours); pushing (4 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking & standing 8-12 hours; repeated bending 8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aide permitted). Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards **This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCMENT and will remain open until September 29, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 13, 2023. After that time, qualified candidates will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. *Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized This position is located within the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) Program in the Mental Health Service. The incumbent must possess the clinical skills to provide treatment for serious and/or chronic mental health disorders, as well as addictions. The NP uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to work collaboratively with the RANGE program staff and larger team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services and disciplines involved in providing care to the patient) in developing the patient-driven holistic care plan for recovery. The clinical duties of the Nurse Practitioner include but are not limited to the following: (a) Diagnosing and creating treatment plans. (b) Prescribing medications. (c) Ordering labs and diagnostic images or tests and interpretation of results. (d) Referring to specialty clinics and consulting with physicians when appropriate. (e) Performing community-based medication management (e.g. administer injectable medication in Veteran's home, etc.). (f) Be responsible to stay abreast of current theory and treatment modalities by reading professional journals, attending conferences, clinic seminars and teleconferences, and materials given out by staff and Mental Health Service. (g) Promptly clearing reminders to meet VASNHCS goals. The NP maintains effective relationships with veteran families as well as colleagues within the Mental Health Service. The collaborating goal is to provide patient-centered, coordinated care with improved outcomes. The NP provides education for veterans and their families, nursing staff and serves as mentor to NP students. They participate in educational activities to improve their own clinical expertise and performance. They also support client self-determination and serve as a resource for addressing ethical issues. The case management duties of the Nurse Practitioner include but are not limited to the following and are applicable in the RANGE program: (a) Being responsible for data collection, administrative record keeping, and monitoring veteran or program indicators, thresholds and performance measures. (b) Responding to consults sent to the RANGE program by interviewing the veteran utilizing questionnaires and other measurement devices while assessing the veteran's emotional, functional, and psychological condition. Presenting the findings to the RANGE team to determine rejection or acceptance into the RANGE program. (c) Functioning as case manager for veterans in the RANGE program performing duties to facilitate independent community living by coordinating mental health and community care (e.g. Triaging and coordinating follow-up appointments and/or outside care, assisting Veterans with medication set up in the community to ensure proper compliance with prescribed medications, etc.). (d) Participating in development of a treatment plan for each RANGE or and/or assigned veteran with measurable goals outlined based on relevant psychological, medical, and psychiatric information with the principles of treatment matching. (e) Assist RANGE veterans in the preparation of materials needed for applications to various agencies for entitlements, then, follow the process of the application until a determination has been made. Serve as the major consultant for information on negotiating the complex processes veteran's encounter when interacting with government and community agencies. (f) Document the veteran's progress in progress notes. Document significant events as needed. Information is to be entered into the CPRS system. 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: Monday - Friday 0800 - 1630 Telework: Yes, as determined by agency policy Virtual: Not available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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