Registered Nurse (CLC MDS Coordinator)

Qualifications

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). 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 a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6). 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 than 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. Preferred Experience: 2 years of CLC Minimum Data Set experience preferred. 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/13085828. Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning; requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities; mechanical devices are available and required for heavy or difficult to lift patients; work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs; the RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures; requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect himself/herself from physically abusive patients.

Responsibilities

• Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care.
• Focus on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction.
• Responsible for coding the section of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)/MDS Assessment and the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) that are assigned to nursing – adhering to current Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) timeframes of assessment completion.
• Responsible for the completion of assigned nursing sections in the RAI/MDS Assessment.
• Participate in the CLC Interdisciplinary Team care plan meetings and reviewing, communicating, and monitoring the residents' care plan.
• Collaborate with the CLC Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC) to educate CLC staff on the completion of the RAI/MDS process – this includes but is not limited to documentation requirements for accurate MDS data entry and educational sessions pertaining to RAI/MDS software and program updates as needed.
• Support quality improvement activities based on CLC quality management data.
• Participate in ongoing survey readiness activities in the CLC.
• Document and take corrective action when notified by the CLC management team, charge nurse, or designee of any discrepancies in coding or documentation of RAI/MDS assessments and CAAs reported during the interrater reliability review.
• Bring principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave,