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You will work as the Orthopedics Nurse Practitioner for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS). You will maintain written scope of practice to medical aspects of patient care that are agreed upon and reviewed every 2 years by the APN and collaborating physician. Make practice decisions autonomously and in consultation with physician and health care professionals, in a collegial relationship for mutual consultation and referral. 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 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. Certification Requirement: Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Certification Nurse Practitioners: A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body Preferred Experience: -Make practice decisions autonomously and in consultation with physician and health care professionals, in a collegial relationship for mutual consultation and referral -Order, facilitate, and interpret laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and for Orthopedic patients to ensure timely completion. -Conduct and document findings on health histories and physical examinations on patients seen in the Orthopedics clinic. -Provide follow-up for evaluation of outcomes of x-rays, laboratory tests, and diagnostic procedures. Detect and evaluate any significant change in patient's condition and provide treatment as indicated. -In conjunction with Orthopedic surgeon responsible for postoperative care of patients, postoperative clinic evaluation and care. -Complete notes for patients assigned to Orthopedics Surgery Clinic. Complete as needed for PASS and Orthopedic Clinics. 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. 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: The position requires light to moderate lifting and carrying (up to 44 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, 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, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, and hearing (aid permitted). ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards You will complete daily morning and afternoon rounds with teams on inpatients. Communicate with patients via phone inquiries, secure messaging, etc. regarding surgical issues pre and post surgery. Communicate to attending surgeons and physicians regarding general surgery patients follow up and management. Order, facilitate, and interpret laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and for Orthopedic patients to ensure timely completion. Write progress notes daily for Orthopedic patients and assist teams as necessary with other progress notes. Communicate with residents, attendings, and other team members both during outpatient evaluations and inpatient care to ensure all Orthopedic patients are receiving appropriate care. You will independently review or complete discharge summaries on all patients on a daily basis. Conduct and document findings on health histories and physical examinations on patients seen in the Orthopedics clinic. Coordinate imaging appointments, subspecialty consultation appointments and follow up visits for the patient. In conjunction with Orthopedic surgeon you are responsible for postoperative care of patients, postoperative clinic evaluation and care. Prescribe, administer and evaluate patient's response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment regimens for chronic and non-healing surgical wounds. Educate Orthopedic patients on the proposed plan or care, provide and evaluate care that promotes wellness and prevents disease, injury and disability and make self available to patients by telephone and voice mail for all vascular surgery patient needs. Educate patients on procedures to decrease post-operative wound infections, discuss some of the known risks of the surgery they are about to undergo, the pre-operative and post-operative expectations and expected hospital stay as needed. Complete notes for patients assigned to Orthopedic Surgery clinic. Complete as needed for PASS and Orthopedic Clinics. Collaborate with the client/family to establish physical, mental, cultural and environmental factors that facilitate or impede expected goals of surgery and post-operative discharge. Participate in multidisciplinary conferences regarding Orthopedic patients and work up. Report findings and communicate plan of care for patients during general surgery team meetings. Assist with the orientation of new UT interns and residents to the Orthopedic Service. Protect use of resources by using the formulary wisely and requesting non-formulary medicines only when formulary alternatives do not exist or when patient's response to formulary medication is poor. Serve as a mentor and consultant for nurses, Orthopedic interns and residents. Develop and maintain professional relationships with peers in the community through participation in professional organizations. Identify systems issues affecting patient care and take appropriate actions to resolve the situation. Care for the population served including Orthopedic patients ages 18-65 and 65 and older in the outpatient setting. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule:Full-time Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm or similar\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]