Summary The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Nurse Practitioner Residency Program Director (NPRPD) practices in the Primary Care Health Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and advancing the Veterans Affairs mission. The NPRPD executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or disciplines and influence the organization's mission. Responsibilities The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Nurse Practitioner Residency Program Director (NPRPD) practices in the Primary Care Health Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and advancing the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NPRPD executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross services and/or disciplines and influence the organization's mission and health care. The NPRPD practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification Major clinical duties and responsibilities of the position: Clinical Practice Provides input in strategic plan, budget, mission, operations, and policy development for the NP Residency Program. Utilizes current trends and relevant theories in an analytical framework to design/modify, implement, and measure integrated programs and activities to achieve clinical and administrative goals. Demonstrates substantial and continuous responsibility for directing and managing the NP Residency Program. Outcome Focus Identifies outcomes that can be improved and leads the performance improvement process to enhance and/or sustain clinical and administrative outcomes within the NPNP Residency Program. Provides leadership in the development and review/revision of policies, protocols, procedures, and competencies related to advanced nursing practice. Utilizes a variety of evaluation strategies to define the overall effectiveness and outcomes of educational and clinical activities. Establishes processes to present, utilize, and share service/program and/or organizational research through quality improvement and/or evidence-based activities. Promotes implementation of research directed towards the improvement of health services. Leadership Provides a leadership role in professional, community, and governmental bodies that shape healthcare policy, contributing to the development/improvement of the healthcare delivery system and better patient outcomes. Develops systems and processes to support staff participation in interdisciplinary work groups. Manages planned and imposed change effectively, assisting the consumer within the organization and/or community to move through the change process. Assesses, implements, and evaluates professional standards of clinical practice and ensures compliance with accrediting and regulatory bodies. Professional Development Curriculum development and program evaluation on local and regional levels. Effective collegial relationships within the service, between services, within administration, with academic affiliate, and with other educational and residency related leaders in the larger health care community. Professional Collegiality Develops, implements, and maintains communication systems with a broad constituency of colleagues. Solicits and synthesizes input from all levels of staff and addresses issues and barriers that impact quality of care, productivity, and professional development. Shares expertise within and/or external to the organization by leading interdisciplinary groups such as committees, task forces, projects, formal teaching, publishing, or professional activities. Evaluates and implements innovative strategies and practices for NP Residency Programs to ensure quality and fiscal compliance. Collaborates with a broad constituency of colleagues in developing, conducting, and evaluating clinical education and training activities of the NP Residency Program. Provides consultation of the development and implementation of clinical training programs. Ongoing accreditation of the NP Residency program. Establishes formal and informal relationships with the nursing community and other educators at the local, and regional levels. The duties for this position are split equally, with part-time service with Primary Care Residency Director duties and part-time duties with Primary Care or certification related clinical practice. 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: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 4:30 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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 Preferred Experience: Doctoral degree, professor/didactic, clinical instructor/preceptor experience, program management, education or residency program director/manager, CCNE accreditation experience, and curriculum development experience. Greater than 3 years advanced practice nurse experience with a geriatric or family practice population. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
