CNS - Clinical Nurse Specialist - GRECC - Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration - Palo Alto, CA

Description

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 
***RELOCATION INCENTIVE/RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE IS NOT AUTHORIZED.***  
The GRECC (Geriatric, Research, Education and Clinical Center) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS} is self-directed and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership experience and creative approaches to management of complex Veteran care. The CNS guides and develops staff through clinical mentoring and provides guidance to graduate nursing students as needed. The CNS is a member of the faculty for the Stanford/VA geriatric medicine fellowship program and assists in identifying the learning needs of geriatric fellows, as well as providing formal and informal education and evaluation of their learning goals. The CNS is an expert clinician who demonstrates the ability to work effectively with the geriatric Veteran population, families, or significant others, and with professional and supportive personnel who provide Veteran Care. The CNS also provides education to Veteran, their caregivers, geriatric medicine fellows, medical residents, medical students, nurses and other disciplines. The CNS uses advanced clinical knowledge/judgment based on the nursing process to promote staff and family involvement in the assessment, planning, implementation, documentation and evaluation of Veteran care outcomes. The CNS resolves unusual or unique Veteran care problems or situations which requires analytical, interpretive, and constructive thinking.?, As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the CNS works with and provides support to all members of the team.  
The major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Uses advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to assess. The geriatric Veteran as part of an interdisciplinary team, including but not limited to: gait, balance, falls, functional abilities, cognition, pain, and depression. Develops a plan of care in conjunction with the Veteran/family and the interdisciplinary team. Provides education and implements interventions to Veterans and caregivers based on the interdisciplinary plan of care.
• Refers to and consults with services such as HBPC (Home Based Primary Care), Recreation Therapy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Respite Care, and Home Health Aid as deemed necessary by the interdisciplinary team. Makes referrals for Medicare certified Home Care and Hospice agencies to facilitate the care of homebound veterans to help keep them at home for as long as possible.
• Responsible for identifying nursing goals and working with the CNS for Extended Care Services and the GRECC Associate Director for Clinical Programs, the GRECC Director, and the Interdisciplinary Team to accomplish them.
• As a key member of the GRECC interdisciplinary team, helps to coordinate Veteran clinic visits and facilitates clinic discussions.
• Provides follow-up with Veteran and/or caregivers between scheduled clinic visits to further educate and coordinate care for frail geriatric Veterans. Assists Veterans and their caregivers with the assessment and management of behavioral issues related to dementia.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may 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 agency, and accredited by the National League of Nursing Accreditation Commission (NLNAC) which changed to the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN; http://ift.tt/2aruyWG ) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE; http://ift.tt/1k3CY6f) at the time the program was completed; 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. 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.
• Possesses a Masters degree from an academic program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE.
• Possesses a 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.]

In addition to the basic requirements, 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 in nursing or related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/72, Part II, Appendix G6 Nurse Qualification Standard, dated March 17, 2009, http://ift.tt/2czFdRl
Business Necessity: 

• One (1) year of full-time experience as a licensed professional nurse.

Preferred Criteria: 

• Clinical experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in geriatric nursing, which may include outpatient, inpatient, home care, long term care and/or home hospice.
• Ability to think critically, exercise flexibility and work collaboratively with interdisciplinary, core and expanded teams
• Progressive leadership responsibilities with excellent communication skills
• Experience in program development with expertise in Quality Improvement processes.

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.
Physical Requirements: This position requires heavy lifting, 45 pounds heavy carrying, 45 pounds straight pulling (2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking & standing 8 hours - intermittently; repeated bending; both legs required; ability for rapid mental& muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aide permitted). Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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.
All applicants are required to submit the following supporting document(s):
*Resume (Required for ALL applicants)
Applicants are not required, but highly encouraged to submit the following document:
*Non-Award SF-50 (VA, other Federal Employees, and Reinstatement eligible
*OF-306 Declaration For Federal Employment http://ift.tt/1RS4J36(Required if selected) 
* VA Form 10-2850a - Application for Nurses and Nurse Anesthetists (Available at http://ift.tt/PErrfO) (Required if selected)
* Copy of Transcripts (Official transcripts will be required if selected)
Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. For more information, please visit http://ift.tt/1hTPxOl.
Faxing Applications or Supporting Documents: You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. If you are unable to apply online or unable to upload your supporting documents to your online application, follow the directions located at the following site: Fax Options. The Vacancy ID of the job opportunity announcement is 1805720.
NOTE: If you applied online and your application is complete, do not fax the paper application (1203-FX) as this will overwrite your prior online responses and may result in you being found ineligible.
 
                                                                

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