Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens

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The Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Physician Assistant is a professional nurse with advanced clinical knowledge and competence to function in a variety of roles. She/he is accountable for the management and evaluation of patient care under her/his care. She/he holds clinical privileges and practices in collaboration with a physician.

The HPM Physician Assistant provides comprehensive wellness care, as well as acute, episodic, and chronic care, of adult clients primarily in a hospice and palliative care unit. The Physician Assistant is prepared by advanced practice in adult health care across the health continuum. This practice includes independent and interdependent decision making, and direct accountability for clinical judgment. Graduate preparation expands the comprehensiveness of the PAs role, which includes: a) participating in and use of research; and b) development and implementation of health policy, leadership, education, case management, and consultation.

Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to patient care, organizational processes, and/or systems, thus, improving outcomes at the program or service level. The HPM PA provides leadership specifically in the areas of hospice and palliative care to nursing staff.

CRITERIA:
1. Conducts a comprehensive assessment to determine client's nature and degree of health care problems, and constructs and implements an appropriate plan of care.

2. Develops a data base on clients by performance of:
(a) Health history, including symptom evaluation
(b) Physical assessment
(c) Diagnostic testing when appropriate
(d) Establishment of patient goals of care

3. Assesses and interprets client data differentiating between normal and abnormal findings; formulates differential diagnosis; develops appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans based on the goals of a patient's care.

4. Prescribes and performs selected laboratory and other diagnostic tests, treatments, referrals, and consultations deemed pertinent, as defined in individual clinical privileges delineated by medical board.

5. Initiates and manages clients with acute and chronic disease, serious and life limiting illness, end of life care and preventative health care where appropriate.

6. Through health teaching for clients, family, peers, and community, increases client and family understanding of disease processes, self-care, and treatment plans.

7. Reviews patient management with collaborating physician as appropriate;
Collaborates and makes recommendations with other disciplines and community resources to ensure continuity of care.

8. Maintains up-to-date records of all client interactions to document care provided, and facilitates intervention of various other health care providers.

9. Demonstrates the skills and knowledge necessary to provide hospice and palliative care appropriate to the clients served, including the ability to obtain and interpret information to identify client needs, providing the care needed.

10. Maintains compliance with the various standards of care and practice. These include but are not limited to H & P completion, Medication Reconciliation, Goals of Care conversations, Life Sustaining Treatment notes, "Hand Off" communication standardization, patient education and documentation, and assistance with patient flow and discharge processes.

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.
• Designated and/or random drug testing required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination

Qualifications

NOTIFICATIONS:

• This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position.
• Travel and relocation expenses are not authorized.
• This position is covered by a special rate.
• Selectee may be required to work at any Boston Healthcare System campus, as needed.
• Candidates who meet the qualification requirements within 15 calendar days following the closing date of the announcement will be considered.
• This position is in the Excepted Service.
• The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy
• Drug Testing Position: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.
• Selectee will be required to complete additional forms to proceed with employment process.
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by VA on a temporary basis for a period not to exceed two years.

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education: The candidate must meet the following:Graduate of a PA training program, or of a surgical assistant program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations; and A Bachelor's degree from an accredited PA training program or in another health sciences related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Certification: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is required for employment in VHA.
• Recent PA graduates who are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) may be employed by VA on a temporary basis for a period not to exceed two years.
• If a PA's NCCPA certification is suspended, revoked or expires, the PA must be removed from the occupation which may result in termination of employment.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.