The Minneapolis VA Health Care System (VAHCS) is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services with state-of-the-art technology, as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics and extended care. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Preferred Experience and Certifications - Master of Science in Nursing (MSN/MAN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) with applicable certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Ideal candidates have 2-3 years of recent experience in ID including HIV care. Candidate will have 2-3 years of recent experience in ID including HIV care. New graduates will not be considered, given the high level of complexity. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position requires a pre-employment physical. Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing, or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Seeing and counselling patients within the Infectious Disease Division and VA Telehealth Programmatic duties as well as case management support to the ID program as a whole and recruitment assistance and support to the telehealth program. The APRN for Infectious disease (ID) will perform physical assessments, engage in therapeutic problem solving, counseling, consultation, and provide independent case management. Provides general information about disease, specific information about tests, possible treatments and treatment benefits, self-care information for patients and caregivers. Incumbent is responsible for acquiring and demonstrating clinical expertise and knowledge of health care programs to improve the quality of patient care. The APRN independently evaluates and treats a panel of patients living with HIV or at high-risk for HIV (on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV), or with other Infectious Diseases including sexually transmitted diseases. Patients may be seen face-to-face, telemedicine, VA Video Connect, or other modalities. Electronic consultations (with phone contact if needed) are also expected to be completed. Patients may be at the Minneapolis VA or other VISN23 facilities, including St. Cloud and Black Hills. The collaborating physicians are available in person or by pager to provide consultation and collaboration for the APRN. Care is delivered primarily in the outpatient setting, but hospitalized patients with HIV may require inpatient consultation as well. The population served is both male and female veterans, but predominantly male, and range in age from young adult (20's) to the elderly (80+). Patients managed in the Infectious Diseases and Minneapolis Retroviral Treatment Clinic (MRTC) include people living with HIV, those at high-risk for acquiring HIV and being evaluated for pre-exposure prophylaxis, patients with occupational and non-occupational exposure to HIV being evaluated for post-exposure prophylaxis, and patients being screened or treated for other infectious diseases. The APRN may also assist in administrative duties related to clinical care and adhoc as needed to assist the ID physicians. Work Schedule: TBD Duties: Performs physical assessments, engages in therapeutic problem solving, counseling, consultation, and provides independent case management. Orders, interprets, and follows up on diagnostic tests Review and respond to consults sent to the MRTC or Infectious Diseases clinic Recommends or initiates consults to other disciplines Collaborates with physicians and other members of health care team, including trainees Resource/Liaison for Primary Care education/questions regarding consult issues Develop tools/resources for education of Primary Care/CBOC physicians regarding treatment of infectious diseases Prescribes medications and other therapies using evidence based decision making and sound clinical judgement Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing, and resolving patient care problems. Facilitation of homecare referrals and recommendations to support ongoing veteran needs Recognizes and supports Suicide Prevention initiatives Works collaboratively with all levels of health care professional and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. Compliance with various Isolation Precautions and Infection Control Guidelines Participates in High Reliability Organization (HRO) training Promotes evidence-based best practices and nurse sensitive indicators (including but not limited to Falls Prevention, Whole Health, PACT, etc)"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
