Nurse Practitioner-Urology

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.

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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:
Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B).

• Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care.
  • Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

• 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.

Physical Requirements: Involves considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning - Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 25 lbs., but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting in excess of 25 lbs. and going up and down flights of stairs - The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe care - Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation, and repetitive actions - Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste, and chemicals - Ability to distinguish shades of colors - Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds. - Emotional and mental stability - Represent department or division at external meetings as directed by Program/Medical Directors - Serve as subject matter expert during internal/external training events as directed - Performs administrative functions as directed by Program/Medical Directors - Ability to effectively perform the essential functions of the position and respond appropriately in emergency situations - The incumbent is subject to the provisions set by the Nurse Professional Standards Board in areas of probationary period, promotion and other actions requiring board approval

Responsibilities:

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: Full-Time; Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
EDRP Authorized: Contact Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

The Surgical Urology Nurse Practitioner (NP) will manage patient care in both an inpatient and outpatient setting at the Sacramento VA Medical Center, which is an academic affiliate of UC Davis. Inpatient duties may include seeing consults from the emergency room or the inpatient unit, rounding on patients, doing floor work such as writing orders, doing transfers and discharges, and care coordination. The NP may hold the service pager when residents are operating. The NP may be asked to assist in the OR for open, robotic and endoscopic surgeries.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Acts to promote health and protect against disease within the constraints of the Nurse Practitioner Act, The Standards of Practice for the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner, and the approved clinical privileges of the provider under the guidance of the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation or their designee.
• Leads and organizes delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning.
• Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-­making, and evaluating outcomes.
• Functions as an expert in clinical practice and chronic pain care.
• Systematically evaluates current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise.
• Guides, develops, and supports staff from a leadership perspective
• Uses professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities.

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until April 14th, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 27th, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.

Salary : $103,747