Summary This Registered Nurse (RN) osition is in the HUD-VASH Program, which is part of the Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS) program in the Social Work Service Line. The VA, in collaboration with HUD, assists homeless, formerly homeless, Veterans with supportive case management in permanent supportive housing. Responsibilities This HUD-VASH RN collaborates and supports the HUD-VASH multidisciplinary team, designed to improve the provision of clinical care and permanent supportive housing services for homeless Veterans. The HUD-VASH team provides high-quality care to Veterans in their homes or community settings on a routine basis, who are living with complex mental health and medical needs. This may include working with Veterans with major mental health diagnoses, cognitive impairments, active substance use, and/or physical disabilities limiting independence in self-care and living skills. The Incumbent works as part of the team consisting of Social Workers, Substance Abuse Specialist and paraprofessionals using a Housing First Model. The Incumbent completes in-depth assessments of functional status, acuity level, prognosis and assessment of the need for treatment services and resources. The Incumbent provides medical assessments to determine ability to live independently; provides medication management and monitoring (to treat chronic or acute health or mental health conditions); provides health education; provides harm reduction counseling and other RN activities, as deemed necessary. The RN will provide support to the HUD-VASH team. Veterans served will require intervention in accordance with their acuity level. In addition, the RN will act as an advocate and resource for Veterans interacting with other VHA services, such as Primary Care (i.e., Homeless PACT) and Mental Health; works collaboratively with staff from other Veterans Health Administration facilities, Military Treatment Facilities, various referring facilities, and community partners. Duties include but are not limited to: Observes and interprets patterns of patient behavior and/or problems in operational systems or processes. Discriminates complex patient/family symptoms and needs and/or systems issues during assessments. Identifies intricate patient/systems problems and accurately focuses on these problem areas. Effectively utilizes the nursing process to guide the development of a care management plan and provide care to comprehensive biopsychosocial care patients. Provides age-specific care for adults of all ages which includes the following elements related to the process and/or effects of chronic illness: promotes independence, encourages self-care; involves family or designated caregiver with care; provides any necessary safety measures, and assists patient to cope with and/or compensate for changes affecting functioning in areas of health, finances, employment, education, housing, relationship/readjustment issues, legal issues and VA benefits. Assesses age-specific care requirements, cultural religious, and gender variables and develops appropriate plan of care. 70% of the care provided by the RN will occur in Veterans homes and/or community settings. Applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing and resolving patient care problems. Coordinates appropriately with various team members. Refers to community agencies for additional support. Willingly shares expertise with peers related to management of safe, therapeutic care. Anticipates emergencies, coordinates prevention, and evaluates responses through critical analysis of patient situations. Demonstrates knowledge and/or required safety skills in the home which includes emergency preparedness plan, hazardous materials, fire plan, equipment failure, emergency plans, and utility outage response procedures for their area. Acts as a consultant in the application of the critical thinking process in documenting and reporting. Assumes responsibility for maintaining a productive working environment. Demonstrates professionalism in negotiation and conflict resolution to insure a productive work environment. Provides and willingly accepts constructive criticism. Fosters accountability for responsible decision-making among staff. Role models the management of stressful situations. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be available after 90 days for highly qualified candidates Telework: Ad hoc only (as needed basis, determined by the needs of the service) Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Must have an unrestricted State Driver's License and be cleared upon hire to drive a government vehicle for transporting Veterans. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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. Current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. Proof of license and insurance will be required. Preferred Experience: Working with Acute Mental Health Populations and Substance Use Working with patients experiencing homelessness Working in the community 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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 pounds and over); straight pulling (6 hours); pushing (6 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; repeated bending; operation of motor vehicle; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); visual acuity 20/30 corrected. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; working with hands in water; working closely with others; working alone. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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.