Registered Nurse-Informaticist

About the role

The Registered Nurse Informaticist is responsible for education, training, and technical support to both inpatient and outpatient settings. This position is located at the Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System.

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 proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of program completion.
• 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 become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion; upon achieving a State license, may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6).
• OR graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing: possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration meets the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher than associate degree/entry level requires formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA (e.g., International Consultants of Delaware).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates meeting basic education requirements but lacking required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years case-by-case).
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series performing duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date (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 grade assignment and level within a grade. Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13094316

• Nurse I – Level I: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care while developing technical competencies. Education: Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, no additional professional nursing experience required.
• Nurse I – Level II: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice for basic or complex clients. Education: ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I Level 1; OR BSN with no additional experience.
• Nurse I – Level III: Demonstrates proficiency based on conscious, deliberate planning; self-directed in goal setting for complex client situations. Education: ADN/Diploma AND 2 years professional nursing experience (one year equivalent to Nurse I Level 2); OR BSN AND 1 year experience equivalent to Nurse I Level 2; OR MSN with no additional experience; OR Master's in related field with BSN and no additional experience.
• Nurse II: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies. Education: BSN with 2 years experience equivalent to Nurse I Level 3; OR MSN with 1 year specialized experience equivalent to Nurse I Level 3; OR Master's in related field with BSN and 1 year specialized experience equivalent to Nurse I Level 3; OR Doctoral degree in Nursing with no experience; OR Doctoral in related field with BSN and no additional experience.
• Nurse III: Executes responsibilities demonstrating leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond immediate practice setting. Education: MSN and 2 years specialized nursing experience (one equivalent to Nurse II, meeting all Nurse III dimension requirements); OR Master's in related field with BSN and 2 years specialized experience (one equivalent to Nurse II, meeting all Nurse III dimension requirements); OR Doctoral in Nursing with 1 year specialized experience equivalent to Nurse II meeting all Nurse III dimension requirements; OR Doctoral in related field with BSN and 1 year specialized experience equivalent to Nurse II meeting all Nurse III dimension requirements.

Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

Preferred Experience

• Minimum of 5 years RN experience
• MSN – Informatics preferred
• 1–2 years of Nursing Education experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

• Requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required; mechanical inpatient lifts are provided.
• May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials; may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings.
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Must complete Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process; influences outcomes by collaborating with interdisciplinary team members; executes position responsibilities demonstrating leadership, experience, and creative approaches; systematically evaluates current practice.
• Demonstrates core informatics functions: content management, application support, health information technology system optimization, enterprise data management, business architecture management, partnership management, requirements management, and change management.
• Exercises leadership in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of hardware and software applications integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) and associated programs/applications.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, including other program and service leaders at the facility and network; establishes and maintains effective relationships with all levels of VA staff nationwide.
• Responsible for documented outcomes at the program or service level; outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility, VISN, or VACO, illustrating performance and leadership benefiting the facility.
• Actively participates in workshops/continuing education programs for career development/advancement and gaining evidence-based practice knowledge to facilitate teaching/learning in clinical areas; sources include national conferences, VISN coordinated events, and/or private conferences.
• Synthesizes available data, information, and knowledge to identify patterns and variances.
• Applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
• Educates colleagues and/or students; serves as preceptor, teacher, and advisor for orienting staff; establishes supportive relationships over time.

Benefits

• Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards.
• Paid Time Off: 50 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long-term care (many programs can be carried into retirement).
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory.

Schedule

• Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30 am–4:00 pm
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
• Telework: Ad-Hoc only
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.