Pyschiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Pmhnp)

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
Qualifications: 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.
• Licensure and Certifications. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment.
  • (1) License. All APNs (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted APN license to practice as a NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
  • (2) Basic Certification.
    • (a) all APNs (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following:
      • i The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
      • ii The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB); or
      • iii Other nationally recognized certifying body in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.
    • (b) The required basic certification as a Nurse Practitioner must be identified in support of any position being established or filled as an APN (NP). An approved list of NP/AP certifications may be found on the Office of Nursing site at the Office of Nursing Services.
    • (c) Basic certification as a Nurse Practitioner is a condition of employment and qualifying factor for the specific assignment.

Grade Determination. In addition to the basic qualification requirements, the grade level of an APN (NP) is based on a combination of education and experience. The levelof practice at which an APN (NP) may perform is based upon a combination of many factors. Beyond the minimum educational requirements, grade determination, upon appointment and advancement, is dependent upon aspects such as continued professional development (formal and/or informal education), clinical performance, judgement, outcomes (at the service level and beyond), leadership and interpersonal skills that infulence, inspire and motivate others within their program/service or beyond. As the APN (NP) acquires the knowledge, skills and judgement that accrues with experience, the privilege of increased authority for patient care and service in administrative roles is expanded as applicable.
(1) APN (Nurse Practitioner) II

• (a) Scope. Demonstrates leadership in developing and improving holistic care through collaberative strategies with others.
• (b) Education and Experience Requirement. Meets basic education requirement for APN (CNS). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• (c) Dimension Requirement. APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • i Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population or program.
  • ii 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 timliness of veteran/patient care.
  • iii Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enahnce patient care.
  • iv Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • v Professional/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and process that positively impact patient outcomes.

(2) APN (Nurse Practitioner) III.

• (a) Scope. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• (b) Education and Experience Requirement.
  • i Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). AND
  • ii One year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• (c) Dimension Requirement. APNs (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the follwoing 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.
  • ii Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • iii 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.
  • iv Professionalism Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • v Professionalism/Collegiality. Initates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that postively impact outcomes at the panel, population or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork.

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: The physical demands required inthis position include driving a vehicle to patients' residents in various weather conditions; walking to and from vehicle in various weather conditions; climbing stairs; lifting medical bag and equipment (less than 20lbs); stooping, kneelings, crouching, or reaching to examine patient or home environment; making phone calls and typing on a computer. The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. Dorn VAMC is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbities. 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. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patitents and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may be occasionally 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.Education:

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing. A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (NOTE: the post-master's certificate is formal education awarded from an acceptable school of professional nursing and is not considered board certification as described under 2.c. (2) of this appendix).
  • (1) Education Accreditation Requirement. Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing accredited by one of the following accrediting organizations at the time the program was completed by the applicant:
    • (a) The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30326. The ACEN accredits all levels of nursing programs, including clinical doctorate, masters/post-master's certificate, baccalaureate, associate and diploma nursing education programs. (NOTE: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013 ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998, an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly via their email contact information on the ACEN website to verify.); or
    • (b) (b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K Street, NW, Suite 7, Washington, DC 20001. The CCNE is an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and accredits nursing education programs at the bachelor and master's level.
  • (2) 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 (see paragraph 2c) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME