Nurse Practitioner (Ambulatory Care)

Description:

Provide care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.

Requirements:

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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.

(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) 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 program may be used to qualify however MUST be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).

Must meet one of the Education requirements: Post-master's certificate, OR, master's OR doctorate from a school of professional nursing accredited by either ACEN or CCNE at the time of program completion. (Required) As a graduate of a foreign school of professional nursing program, I possess a nurse practitioner degree equivalency validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency. (Required) Licensure and Certification. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment.

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.

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 the area 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/APN 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.
(d) APNs (NPs) are credentialed and privileged to provide care based upon scope of practice, formal graduate nursing educational preparation, certification and patient population. It is the focus of care based on patient care needs, not the care setting, that defines the provider's scope of practice and basic certification required. The scope of practice is determined by the provider's formal academic education and basic Nurse Practitioner certification. The assignment will either require a specific basic certification as a nurse practitioner, i.e., Mental Health, Women's Health, etc., or may allow for more than one basic nurse practitioner certification.
(e) The APNs (NPs) may also hold a specialty certification which in many cases is not specific to a Nurse Practitioner role. Specialty certifications may be highly recommended but are not required as a condition of employment or required for an assignment and do not support the basic board certification nurse practitioner requirement.

Required Certification: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner.

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. Beyond the minimum education requirements, grade determination for appointment, advancement and promotion will be based on the following specific requirement for an APN (NP). The level of 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, judgment, outcomes (at the service level and beyond), leadership and interpersonal skills that influence, inspire and motivate others within their program/service or beyond. As the APN (NP) acquires the knowledge, skills and judgment that accrues with experience, the privilege of increased authority for patient care and service in administrative roles is expanded as applicable.

APN (Nurse Practitioner) II
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. 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.

APN (Nurse Practitioner) III
Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP). AND One year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA HANDBOOK 5005/160 PART II APPENDIX G6a January 29, 2024 II-G6a-1
Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. 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. This position requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control.