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The Surgical Nurse Practitioner works full time in the Syracuse VA Surgical department. The incumbent functions as a Surgical Nurse Practitioner under the clinical supervision of a licensed Physician. The incumbent will provide all aspects of care to Veterans at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The Surgical Nurse Practitioner works to provide weekend and nighttime coverage for: General, vascular, and Thoracic (GVT). The Surgical Nurse Practitioner is responsible for care of the GVT inpatient and cover emergencies and consults for general, vascular and thoracic services. The incumbent will perform rounding and inpatient patient care.

1. The incumbent staffs the general vascular thoracic patients with minimal supervision. Screens and responds to new consults and conducts follow up care to include, but not limited to: evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, ordering and interpreting imaging studies, ordering and reviewing laboratory studies and performs minor procedures.
2. The incumbent takes first call for the Surgical service: Responding to Emergency department and inpatient consults, performing weekend rounds, writing progress notes and orders on all patients on and who are being followed by the GVT service. Performing emergency minor surgical procedures, such as: suturing wounds, abscess drainage, etc.
3. Preoperative duties will include performing History and Physical examinations, ordering and reviewing preoperative labs, ECG's and Imaging studies., ordering preoperative consultations for medical clearance and assuring optimization prior to surgery. Writes preoperative and postoperative admission orders.
4. The incumbent performs daily postoperative rounds, might need to write postoperative orders, documents daily progress notes, orders labs, medications and imaging studies. Obtains consults from medical service and subspecialties as needed. Performs daily wound care, dressing changes and drain care on all inpatient postoperative patients. Removes Foley catheters and wound drains when indicated. Consults and collaborates with physical therapy and wound care team when indicted. Consults/communicates with social service, CLC, nursing home, extended care, and community rehab centers to assure proper discharge placement and care. Writes discharge orders and discharge summaries. Writes home health care orders as needed.
5. The incumbent performs daily postoperative rounds, and documents daily progress notes, orders labs, medications and imaging studies on all postoperative patients as indicated. Performs daily rounds on all inpatients that are being followed by the GVT service.
6. The incumbent might need to but are not required to: assists in operating room preparations, assists in the safe transfer of patients to and from the gurney and the operating room table, and facilitates correct patient position on the operating room table. Dresses all surgical wounds. Places post-op bandages and dressings.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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).
  • NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Basic Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.