Summary

The Nursing Informatics RN is directly responsible to the Chief Nurse Specialty & Critical Care/Patient Care Services for the coordination of information - education - training - and technical support related to VISTA nursing modules and other clinical information systems utilized by Patient Care Services.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - 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 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)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• 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
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099168
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Qualifications: Certification or Masters in Nursing Informatics
• Experience with: Cerner - data analytics - such as - structural query language (SQL) or coding
• project management experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: It is VA policy to ensure that all selected applicants and employed personnel are physically - mentally and emotionally fit to perform the duties of the position to which assigned
• A pre-placement physical examination is required for all fulltime - part-time and intermittent employees identified by VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• The pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment to determine the physical and mental fitness for candidates for appointment in VA
• The examination will be concerned with the mental and physical ability of the applicant to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment and will include requisite laboratory and other screening as required by Federal regulatory agencies
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• This position requires that you are able to lift at least 50 lbs
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on organizational needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual Influenza vaccination - TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• The incumbent collaboratively interacts with IM personnel - Pharmacy - Biomedical Engineering - and LRC to provide comprehensive and expert nursing knowledge and information to this area - which will result in an interactive and collegial networking process
• They collaborate with other services to assure integration of processes which facilitate patient care and skillful application by end users
• This person must possess technical expertise in computer management and can lend support to others
• This registered nurse possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative - interdisciplinary practice setting within these assignments - additional designated primary roles are defined - such as ADPAC - BCMA Coordinator - etc
• However - these roles provide coverage for each other
• Coordinates - manages - implements - and maintains Patient Care Services computer programs
• Collaborates with programmers in Information Management (IM) to update the software package and troubleshoot hardware/software problems
• Provides written documentation of the status and progress of installations and training of Nursing computer program
• Manages access codes and provides nursing staff with appropriate levels of access to computer program information and reports
• Evaluates computer software/hardware programs an recommends future version or local enhancements of the Patient Care Services computer programs
• Manages the database for the clinical applications
• Assesses staff needs specific to information systems
• Coordinates - modifies - implements - and evaluates information systems that support organizational processes and/or systems to improve patient care outcomes
• Assesses the impact and overall functioning of computer applications on patient care and nursing staff
• Recommends new systems or changes to existing systems
• Acts as a consultant in the application of information technology to clinical practice
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates information systems used by nursing/PCS staff on a continual basis
• Effectively participates in the organization's performance improvement activities providing support with data analytics
• Develops and proposes strategies for changing automated information procedures which impact on the nursing care of patients
• Directs and coordinates the implementation of VISTA nursing modules and research possible enhancements of other automated systems used in nursing practice
• Comprehensively tests - verifies - and updates the Nursing Package versions prior to activation - making recommendations for procedural changes as appropriate
• Evaluates Nursing VISTA software and recommends changes
• Recommends - defines - and prioritizes appropriate nursing programs for computerization
• Leads opportunities at a service level to improve performance and facilitate application by users
• Initiates and/or participates in staff education planning to foster a better understanding and use of computer applications Performs various audits of computer systems including VISTA key audits
• Administrator for SharePoint for nursing service including configurations and documents
• Manages computer system contingency plans and documents
• Assists BCMA coordinator in managing hardware/software and maintenance for BCMA
• Works with personnel security and sponsors users for system set-up and personal identity verification cards
• 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 Pay Scale: NU51 Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - shifts such as - 0630-1600 or 0800-1730 Telework: Ad-hoc telework may be available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized