Career Center

The Atlanta VA Health Care System is actively recruiting for Registered Nurses-Patient Expeditor for the Nursing Operations division. Recruitment/Relocation incentive is authorized for this position. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. NOTE: Nurse III must demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. The Nurse III is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level. In order to be considered for appointment to Nurse III, outcomes must be documented. Meeting the Practice dimension involves incorporating and implementing the requirements of the other qualification standards, including: (a) Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. (b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making and evaluating outcomes. (c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. (d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise. (e) Guiding, developing and supporting staff from a leadership perspective.(f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (2-6 hours); Pushing (2-6 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (5-9 hours); Standing (4-8 hours); Kneeling (1-2 hours) Repeated bending (2-4 hours); Climbing, legs only (1-2 hours), Twisting (2-4 hours), Working closely with others. ["Duties and responsibilities of RN-Patient Expeditor: Expedites, prioritizes, synchronizes, and mediates clinical issues in real time for admissions, transfers, and discharges. Manages deviations from patient care pathways; resolves bottlenecks and variation in service level agreements. Provides leadership and works with the Off -Tour Nursing Supervisor and Leadership to address patient flow issues. Collaborates with Off-Tour Nursing Supervisor and Nursing leadership to identify process improvement strategies, reduce patient length of stay (LOS), trend delays, support quality initiatives and enhance patient safety. Defines patient activity triggers and feedback mechanisms to inform operational team members, physician leaders, and administrative team to mitigate over capacity situations. Anticipates and determines strategies for long length of stay or complex discharge patients in concert with Case Management. Demonstrates the ability to collect, analyze, and report data that identifies barriers in achieving quality improvement goals in section, service line, and medical center wide programs/committees. Recommends appropriate and alternative options while leading process change throughout the facility that improves patient flow and Veteran outcomes. Develops and coordinates seamless transitioning of patients throughout the ED, inpatient and outpatient care process with a focus on Admissions processes and discharge planning needs. Interfaces with Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, and other Healthcare team members to expedite appropriate care and patient flow. Complies with established policies, standard of care, and standards of practice, admission, discharge, and transfer unit screening criteria. Demonstrates knowledge of patient flow process to serve as an expert resource and coordinate patient saturation/decompression efforts across VA Atlanta inpatient units. Works in other Patient Flow Expeditor roles (Bed Control, Discharge Planning, Transfer Coordination, Preadmission screening) as required by the service line. Participates in interdisciplinary team rounds/huddles and discharge planning to ensure timely and efficient patient movement with anticipated discharges. Assesses patient flow needs capacity, availability, acuity skill level of personnel working in collaboration with Nurse Mangers in assigning responsibilities to meet needs that may impede patient flow. Utilizes flow tools/systems (BMS, EDIS) and the electronic medical records documentation systems to support, manage and evaluate flow of patients throughout facility. Educates staff and acts as a resource person in the admission, transfer and discharge processes. Work Schedule: Will be discussed during interview Compressed/Flexible: Not Available.\nTelework: Not Available.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required."]