Career Center

Summary

The certified Registered Nurse - Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) utilizes a comprehensive approach to nursing practice - emphasizing evidence-based care delivery and the integration of innovative strategies. The embeddedness of the CNL within a microsystem facilitates the use of the principles of complexity science within dynamic contexts. This includes synthesizing evidence to devise health promotion strategies and implementing them within populations.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) Additional Education: Nurse (Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)) must possess a bachelor's level degree in nursing and a master's degree from an accredited CNL education program.
• Certification: Nurse (Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)) must possess certification as a CNL from the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) - American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
• NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and 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
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12841051
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: A minimum of four (4) years of nursing practice - two (2) years of which should be in leadership positions - an emphasis on specialized Outpatient: Primary and Specialty care
• Experience with policy development - shared governance - and HRO principles
• Ability to mentor and develop nursing staff at all levels
• Strong skills in care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: OIG - VISN - VHA - and Joint Commission
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position requires may require potentially long periods of continued Moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds - Light lifting under 15 pounds - Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds - Light carrying under 15 pounds - Straight pulling for 1 hour - Pushing for 1-3 hours
• Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking 4 hours - Standing for 2-7 hours - Kneeling for 2 hours - Repeated bending for 2 hours - Climbing - use of legs and arms - Both legs required - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4 - Specific visual requirement of 20/40 DVA
• corrected - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Hearing (aid may be permitted) - Mental and emotional stability - Sitting for 8 hours - Simple grasping for 2-4 hours - Fine Manipulation (including keyboarding for 4-6 hours) - Twisting for 2 hours.

Duties

• The Outpatient Care - Registered Nurse - Clinical Nurse Leader duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to the following: Utilizes principles of complexity science to analyze and address the dynamic nature of healthcare systems
• Implements evidence-based interventions at the microsystems level to optimize care delivery and patient outcomes
• Synthesizes evidence to develop strategies for promoting health and wellness in populations
• Implements innovative care strategies in the absence of evidence
• Applies public health concepts to advance preventive services
• Assess care outcomes using improvement science and systems theory within complex healthcare environments
• Evaluates social drivers of health and integrate them into tailored programs
• Communicate the importance of the CNL role in healthcare delivery
• Applies improvement science to enhance performance measurement and quality improvement
• Utilizes data sources to evaluate care outcomes and benchmark against standards
• Advocates for appropriate healthcare policies
• Facilitates difficult conversations within healthcare teams and with patients
• Conducts holistic assessments and implement risk aversion strategies
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based care delivery and adapt strategies as needed
• Leads interprofessional teams to develop plans for improving patient-care outcomes
• 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- 4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc (Occasional or Irregular basis) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized