A Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the social work service of the department of Behavioral Health is an independent care provider who is highly skilled in the management of homeless patients who may also have behavioral health diagnoses. The HPACT NP will report to the Homeless Supervisor, who reports to the Chief of Social Work. The position is located at the Homeless Program, River Street, Boise, ID, Social Work Service. 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. Preferred Experience: Working with homeless population, and in mental health; knowledge of mental health diagnoses. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: 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: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 lbs); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Walking and Standing (4-8 hours); Repeated bending (4-8 hours); Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or 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; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: Outside and inside; Excessive noise, intermittent; Constant noise; Dust; Slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working closely with others; Working alone, Protracted or irregular hours of work; May occasionally work in the community. ["The HPACT Team provides Veterans with comprehensive, individualized care, including services that lead to permanent housing. Functions and duties are, but not limited to: Attunes to how housing insecurity and other social factors like poverty harm Veterans' health overall, worsen sickness, delay care, and exacerbate both temporary and long- term homelessness. Assists Veterans receiving homeless services can walk into the HPACT clinic without an appointment and receive medical care, case management, housing placement supports, substance use and mental health treatment, community referrals, triage services, and benefits counseling, Carries a caseload and provide consultation to Behavioral Health, other clinical programs in the Boise VA Healthcare system, community agencies who provide care to our veterans, and other clinicians within VISN 20 with whom we have established relationships for providing care for our veterans. Works in the HCHV/HUDVASH Homeless Program in order to provide easy access to Veterans. The HPACT NP will need to be an effective communicator and team-player who collaborates with multiple disciplines within behavioral health and medical/surgical specialties. The incumbent will need to demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, veteran-centric care, and willingness to continuously improve care delivery. The HPACT NP must have an understanding of the nuances of homelessness and preferably past experience working with this population. This position may require occasional travel away from the duty station to visit veterans' home, or other sites as appropriate to patient care or training needs. 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, 0730 - 1600 Compressed/Flexible: Not Available 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"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
