Career Center

The Spinal Cord Injury / Disorders (SCI/D) Home Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) demonstrates expertise, competence, compassion, and a willingness to learn. The SCI/D NP is expected to collaborate with any and all other appropriate providers to develop and support a plan of care that promotes the best possible outcome in accordance with the mutual goals of the Veteran, his/her caregiver(s), and the interdisciplinary care team at the NJ HCS, East Orange Facility Preferred person must be a practicing APN for a minimum of 2 years, have a minimum of 1 year Home Care experience, and have a minimum of 4 years' experience working with people living with a spinal cord injury/disorder, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on an inpatient, outpatient and in their homes. Preferred experience working with virtual care technologies in the delivery of health care to people living with SCI/D, MS and ALS. Incumbent is required to maintain an active driver's license as driving in the community is a requirement. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. 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. 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 and Clinical Nurse Specialists. On and after March 17, 2009, registered nurses appointed or otherwise moving into these assignments must meet and maintain the following additional qualifications. This includes employees appointed before March 17, 2009, who obtain such qualifications on or after March 17, 2009. Nurse Practitioners. A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, 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.] Clinical Nurse Specialists. A clinical nurse specialist must possess a Masters degree from an academic program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE and maintain full and current certification as a clinical nurse specialist 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.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 I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a 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. 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. Driver's License: Unrestricted state Driver's License Driving Record: Candidate must have a clean driving record for the past five years Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical lifts are provided in the Veterans' homes. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, procedures, and home settings. The incumbent will have to drive in the community to deliver care to the Veterans in their homes. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Home Care SCI/D NP:\n- participates as a member of the SCI/D interdisciplinary team in the plan, coordination, and implementation of care and medical issues pertinent to Veterans with SCI/D, ALS and MS\n-travels to Veteran homes in New Jersey VISN 2 catchment areas to provide provider care services that includes: assessments, follow up interventions, medication reconciliation and education/pill boxing, reviewing fall risk and education on fall prevention for patients and caregivers, providing education on safe home oxygen use, use of glucometers, education on end of life GOCC and review of Advance Directives and Life sustaining treatment preferences, basic home safety and infection control , fire and safety prevention education and reinforcement, pain management strategies, suicide risk assessment and prevention education, emergency management, care coordination via home telehealth (CCHT), clinical video to home telehealth (CVT) and Virtual Video Care (VVC) via video to home technologies approved by the VA.\n- writes admission to the Home care program orders, performs and documents histories and physical examinations on the patients, documents diagnoses and plans of care and writes discharge plan when patient is being discharged from the Home Care program;\n- initiates medication orders or prescriptions for drugs and/or refills of pharmaceuticals including prescribing controlled dangerous substances (CDS) in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and current VANJHCS policies and procedures;\n- orders, interprets, and acts upon results of laboratory tests, EKGs, x-rays, and other diagnostic procedures, as appropriate to the area of practice; - performs role of patient advocate to promote wellbeing of the patients.\n- initiates consults and referrals of patients to specialty clinics, other disciplines, and supportive hospital and/or community services including diet therapies, oxygen therapy, durable medical equipment, prosthetic equipment /supplies and non\n-pharmacotherapeutic regimens while considering efficient and cost-effective use of VA and department resources;\n- evaluates patients for medical risk stratification in preparation for surgery in collaboration with collaborating physician and specialty consultation when medically necessary;\n- participates in training and utilizes virtual care technologies to provide specialized care to SCI/D veterans including: assessing patients for the Care Coordination/Home Telehealth (CC/HT) program; ordering and initiating the CC/HT technologies and/or video-to-home virtual care devices; monitors patient status while patient is enrolled in the CC/HT program;\n- completes all documentation according to Medical Center policy IM-03 (136G), Medical Record Documentation; and- participates on committees and in continuous quality improvement initiatives, promotes/supports growth of others through precepting NP students, mentoring, and orientation when appropriate and serves as a positive, clinical role model to facilitate staff development.\n- collaborates with other VA SCI programs, state, local community agencies, and Veteran Service Organizations to access points of care and utilize methods to enhance health care choices of Veterans- will need to obtain and maintain an active New Jersey driver's license.\n- will assist in clerical and administrative tasks as needed to avoid interruption in the flow of care of the Veterans\n- coordinates/collaborates with other VA and Non-VA departments, agencies and /or healthcare providers to ensure patient needs are met. Travel: Driving to VA facilities and patient homes will be required more then 75% of the time\nWork Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]