Registered Nurse - Outpatient Staff RN

Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse provides competent – evidence‑based gender‑specific care to primary care patients with oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate. This nurse provides direct Veteran care and care coordination to Veterans within the Primary Care Department.

• English Language Proficiency – in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), a person shall serve in direct patient care positions only if 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 at program completion: the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• Individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s‑level degree may 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 a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment after successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference VA Handbook 5005 – Appendix G6).
• In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration meets the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher than 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 U.S. State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia, is required.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception – candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but lack required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120‑day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years, case‑by‑case).
• Grandfathering Provision – all persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties 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.
• 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 (see online assessment).
• Grade / Level Scope Education Nurse I – Level I:
  Delivers fundamental, knowledge‑based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies;
  Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing requirement.
• Grade / Level Scope Education Nurse I – Level II:
  Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technical competence in providing care to clients with basic or complex needs; an ADN or Diploma with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equal to Nurse I – Level 1, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required.
• Grade / Level Scope Education Nurse I – Level III:
  Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning, self‑directed goal setting for complex client situations; an ADN or Diploma with 2 years of professional nursing experience (one year equivalent to Nurse I – Level
  2), or a BSN with 1 year of professional nursing experience equal to Nurse I – Level 2, or a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) with no additional professional nursing experience, or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
• Grade / Level Scope Education Nurse II – Level I:
  Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies…