Advanced Practice Nurse - Neurosurgery

Position Overview

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner practices in Surgery Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provided advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management. This Nurse Practitioner practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• The Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients. The NP will work in collaboration with neurosurgeons, neurologists, and other healthcare professionals to manage the care of patients with conditions such as brain tumors, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. The role of the NNP is multifaceted, including patient assessment, diagnostic testing, treatment planning, and postoperative care. Duties and Responsibilities are, but not limited to: Advance assessment and diagnosis - conducting thorough patient evaluations, interpreting complex clinical data and making diagnoses for patients with neurological conditions Performs preoperative and postoperative assessments and postoperative wound care. Provides inpatient and ED consultation. Reviews outpatient consults for scheduling and completes EConsults Manages the Operating Room schedule to ensure patients are scheduled appropriately for surgery, preop testing is completed, and patients are optimized for surgery. Completes disability paperwork as appropriate. Admits surgical patients post op. Manages patients care postop while patient is inpatient. Completes hospital discharge summaries Diagnostic test ordering and interpretation: Ordering and interpreting advanced diagnostic tests like intracranial pressure monitoring, and advance imaging studies. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals: Consulting with specialist to optimize patient care. Patient and family education: Providing comprehensive information and support to critically ill patients and their families regarding complex neurological conditions and treatment options. Complex procedures: Performs procedures Independently for which hold privileges for. Provides education to patients and their families. Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. 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 through Friday, 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Qualifications & Requirements

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements 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. Preferred Experience: Two or more years (within the last 3 years), independent practice as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in Neurosurgery or Orthopedic Surgery, with Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA).