Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current, permanent employees within the Veterans Health Administration and to U.S. Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Videos

https://youtu.be/LM35k1p_3Tc?si=6wdZw0Lag331XBMR

Major Duties:
Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide direct patient care within the credentialed scope of practice
• Oversee operations of the Primary Care service/clinic, including day-to-day supervision of staff
• Serve as a clinical leader, providing guidance to primary care practitioners (Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and allied Health Professionals)
• Develop, implement, and monitor processes to ensure delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care
• Assure compliance with VA, federal, and local policies, regulations, and performance standards
• Supervise, hire, and evaluate clinical staff; ensure completion of required training and competency assessments
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and population health management initiatives
• Lead or participate in service line meetings, committees, and strategic planning activities
• Guide the development and implementation of clinical protocols, policies, and procedures
• Promote team-based care and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Provide education and mentor to staff, trainees, and students as appropriate
• Engage in workforce planning, workload analysis, and resource management
• Act as a liaison between Primary Care and other clinical or administrative services

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 AM-4:30 PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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 and Certification:
  • 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 Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty 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.

NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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.

APN (Nurse Practitioner) V:

• Scope: Practice of an executive nature, comprised of complex leadership and administration components, associated with critical health care issues and activities that drive meeting the organizational mission, health care and policy.
• Education and Experience Requirement:
  • Meets basic education requirements for an APN (NP)
  • Five years of APN (NP) experience, one of which is specialized experience equivalent to the Nurse IV
  • Meets all Nurse V dimension requirements
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at Level V must meet ALL the following dimension requirements:
  • Practice - Serve at an executive level, applying complex clinical, leadership and administrative skills, demonstrating substantial and continuing responsibility that drives the organizational mission, health care delivery and policy at the local, regional and/or national level.
  • Outcome Focus - Apply clinical/business principles and research/evidence-based practice, including systems thinking, to the healthcare environment to improve the care delivery system at the organization or enterprise level.
  • Leadership - Drive enterprise-wide organizational excellence through a shared vision, leading change to achieve the mission and strategic goals of the organization.
  • Professional Development - Provide executive leadership in creating governance structures to establish an environment where professional and personal growth is expected and fostered.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality - Strategically deploys various communication channels and platforms to nurture a healthy culture, influence, motivate and empower people while building collaborative relationships at an enterprise level.

Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of Primary Care experience and demonstrated leadership skills; Advanced knowledge and ability to direct complex administrative management systems, and a working knowledge and understanding of general clinical systems as they relate to patient care

Physical Requirements: The Nurse Practitioner (NP) must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients. The NP may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures. The RN may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NP must be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities, based on patient needs.

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.