Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care) - EDRP Authorized

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP) practice to the full extent of their education, training and certification, without the clinical supervision or mandatory collaboration of physicians as a licensed independent practitioner to provide specified medical or other patient care service. The APRN-NP collaborates with other disciplines to develop, implement, and coordinate a system of patient care delivery that promotes communication, teamwork, high quality care, patient satisfaction, positive outcomes, appropriate utilization of resources and cost-effective services. The APRN-NP is a registered nurse with advanced education and clinical experience who demonstrates leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex patients and functions in a variety of leadership roles that influence patient care, organizational processes and/or systems to improve overall outcomes. The APRN-NP to be a clinical provider who practices within the Rules and Regulations of the Nursing Practice Act of the state licensure board. The APRN-NP is an expanded role to provide health care to individuals, families, and/or groups in a variety of settings including but not limited to homes, hospitals, institutions, offices, industry, schools, community agencies, public and private clinics, and private practice. The APRN-NP acts independently and/or in collaboration with other health care professionals in the delivery of health care services.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Providing leadership in direct patient care and works with members of the expanded health care team in order to manage the urgent and episodic needs of patients, and coordinate medical care for a population of Veterans in the practice setting.
2. Providing care, emphasizing evidence-based medicine, primary and secondary preventative medicine, the use of a computerized medical record system, and continuous quality improvement based on individualized provider data.
3. Providing leadership in identifying and evaluating issues in order to improve clinical programs.
4. Mentoring newly hired providers.
5. Role modeling self in a manner that demonstrates accountability and adherence to standards of professional practice and patient care.
6. Formulating appropriate diagnosis based on history and physical evaluation and clinical findings.
7. Functioning independently without supervision or direction in accordance with individually granted clinical privileges.
8. Initiating/participating in development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, procedures, and guidelines to improve the quality and function of the program/service/medical center.
9. Incorporating the eight core competencies of the High-Performance Development Model (HPDM) in practice and monitors its use for employees and programs.

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
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Work Schedule: TBD (Typically: Monday- Friday, 0800-1630 CST)
Telework: Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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
  • Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• Basic Board Certification - (Primary Care APN) - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

Grandfathering Provision Note - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:
Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B).

• Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care.
  • Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Physical Requirements: Moderate Lifting of 15-44 pounds, Light lifting under 15 pounds, Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds, Light carrying under 15 pounds, Pulling hand over hand for 8-12 hours, Pushing for 8-12 hours, Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking 8-12 hours, Standing 8-12 hours, Kneeling 8 to 12 hours, Repeated bending for 8-12 hours, Climbing, legs only for 8-12 hours, Climbing and use of both legs and arms, Both legs required, Near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted).