Clinical Nurse Leader

About the role

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Registered Nurse in the Community Living Center (CLC) is responsible and accountable for providing leadership in the delivery of safe - high-quality - Veteran-centered care for residents receiving skilled nursing - rehabilitation - long-term - hospice - dementia - and restorative care services. The CNL functions as an advanced clinician - care coordinator - educator - and quality improvement leader, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team promoting clinical outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provides clinical leadership and oversight for nursing care delivered within the Community Living Center (CLC)
• Captures and evaluates comprehensive - individualized plans of care for Veterans residing in skilled nursing - rehabilitation - hospice - palliative - memory care - and long-term care units
• Leads interdisciplinary team collaboration to ensure coordinated - Veteran-centered care that promotes quality outcomes and safe transitions across the continuum of care
• Utilizes evidence-based practice - clinical guidelines - and quality improvement methodologies to improve patient safety - clinical outcomes - and operational performance
• Maintains current knowledge of geriatric nursing - long-term care regulations - quality standards - and VA initiatives affecting Community Living Centers
• Serves as a clinical resource and mentor to registered nurses - licensed vocational nurses - nursing assistants - and other healthcare staff through coaching - education - and competency development
• Facilitates staff education regarding evidence-based practices - clinical protocols - patient safety initiatives - and quality improvement activities
• Collaborates with physicians - rehabilitation therapists - pharmacists - social workers - dietitians - psychologists - and other members of the interdisciplinary team to address complex resident care needs
• Supports admission - discharge - and transfer planning while coordinating continuity of care with inpatient units - outpatient clinics - home health - and community partners
• Promotes resident and family engagement by providing education - facilitating shared decision-making - and addressing concerns in a timely and professional manner
• Assists nurse managers with staffing coordination - workload management - policy implementation - and operational planning as assigned
• Demonstrates leadership in emergency preparedness - infection prevention - fall prevention - pressure injury prevention - medication safety - and behavioral health management
• Serves as a role model for professional nursing practice - ethical decision-making - and the VA ICARE Values of Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - and Excellence

Requirements

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• 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)
• 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.)
• Additional Education Requirement for Clinical Nurse Leader: In addition to the basic requirements - a Nurse (Clinical Nurse Leader) (CNL) must possess a bachelor's level degree in nursing and a master's degree from an accredited CNL education program
• 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

Qualifications

• Scope: Nurse II - demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education: 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 and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• Dimension: Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research

Skills

Board certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

Benefits

Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications

Pay

Grade 2: $176 -969-$228 -000 annually
Grade 3: $194 -665-$228 -000 annually

Schedule

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program