Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care

The Michael E. DeBakey VAMC is currently seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Nurse Practitioner in the Primary Care Unit.

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The registered nurse provides 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; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Alabama Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). Incumbent will perform outpatient duties and management of scheduled and unscheduled patients, Monday through Friday, under the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model accountable for adhering to established policies and standards of care/standards of practice in evaluating, tracking, and following up on patient care. Duties/responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• 1. The NP is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the NP's obligation to provide optimal care (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).
• 2. Provides Telehealth care to adults with medical issues, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of health care problems which may include prescription of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions according to the VHA Telehealth standards.
• 3. Independently manages patient care utilizing telehealth technology and collaborates with supervising physician as necessary.
• 4. Functions as a liaison with other VHA facilities for telehealth clinical and administrative issues.
• 5. Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care, establishing goals, and discharge planning in the home telehealth setting.
• 6. Demonstrates consistent clinical competence in providing care.
  • 6.1. Demonstrates advanced skills, knowledge, and an ability to perform treatments, procedures and utilize equipment appropriate to practice.
  • 6.2. Independently manages patient care and collaborates with supervising physician as necessary.
  • 6.3. Demonstrates evidence of critical thinking skills in identifying, analyzing, and resolving patient care problems.
  • 6.4. Documents appropriately patients' History and Physical, as well as requesting appropriate consults
• 7. Documents appropriately in the CPRS progress notes.
  • 7.2. Evaluates findings in collaboration with the supervising physician.
  • 7.3. Completes each patient's medication reconciliation according to MEDVAMC policy.
  • 7.4. Writes appropriate provider orders and follows-up for implementation.
  • 7.5. Revises the treatment plan based upon patient assessment and diagnosis.
  • 7.6. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) per policy.
• 8. Effectively functions in a leadership role that guides and directs others who provide patient care.
• 9. Uses a team approach to identify, analyze, and resolve patient care problems that result in improved patient outcomes.
• 10 Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills.
  • 10.1. The NP can recognize the patient has a problem.
  • 10.2. The NP can manage the problem safely and effectively, recognizing his/her scope of practice.
  • 10.3.The NP has a relative sense of urgency.
  • 10.4. The NP takes the right action for the right reason (del Bueno).
• 11. Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE) is completed twice a year and is rated competent in all measured areas.

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; 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM or additional time as needed to maintain operations
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required