Registered Nurse - Caregiver Support

Job Opportunity

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Responsibilities duties include but not limited to:

• Uses knowledge of the CSP to matrix Veteran level of functioning with the appropriate CSP services (i.e., PCAFC and PGCSS) to ensure patient safety, recovery, program stewardship, and organizing the delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning.
• Applies advanced nursing clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating PCAFC and/or PGCSS eligibility.
• Receives, reviews, and dispositions PCAFC and/or PGCSS initial eligibility decisions, reassessments, and appeal decisions for clinical eligibility determinations.
• Evaluates current practice and formulates outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise.
• Works with interprofessional team members at facility and VISN levels to ensure support to caregivers is delivered objectively with strong, consistent documentation and communication in a direct and coordinated manner.
• Provides and exhibits knowledge in assessment and monitoring, health restoration, wellness promotion, illness prevention, and coping facilitation.
• Documents information utilized in clinical eligibility determination and eligibility assessment tools.
• Assists the facility with MISSION Act implementation, as it relates to CSP.
• Advocates for holistic care through patient/caregiver education and provider interaction and implements an educational plan to meet the patient care needs.
• Uses clinical judgment in the interpretation of trends and patterns, application of regulation, policy, guidelines, and the recommendation of program enhancements.
• Travels to the homes of Veterans and caregivers to complete assessments as a part of that application process.
• Conducts annual in home Wellness appointments for Veterans and caregivers participating in the program.
• Must possess a full and unrestricted state drivers license.

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: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact VHAEDRPProgramSupport@VA.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

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/12782967

Physical Requirements:

Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, Use of fingers, Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle.

Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

IF YOU ARE USING FOREIGN EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, YOU MUST SEND A CERTIFICATE OF FOREIGN EQUIVALENCY WITH YOUR TRANSCRIPT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THAT EDUCATION. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Note: The National League for Nursing Accrediting