Summary

The primary purpose of the Patient Flow - Clinical Coordinator position is to deliver fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical skills on this assigned unit where conditions and treatment are normally of a noncritical nature.

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/12754777
• 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 Experience: BSN with three years in Acute Medical/Surgical/ED or Critical Care nursing area
• Previous case management/discharge planning experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: 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
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse- Patient Flow Clinical Coordinator provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering - assessment - appropriate nursing judgment - and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding - health teaching - health counseling
• provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being
• and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider
• Major duties/functions include - but are not limited to: Accessing the Bed Management System (BMS) frequently to view available bed and to enter patients that are in transit to the medical center and have a waiting bed - and then remove the patient upon his/her arrival
• Accurately entering and updating data of Veterans' condition on the Transfer Log - VISN5 Bed Board - Daily Reports - etc
• Entering clinical information in CPRS and all administrative issues are to be charted in the Daily Reports - Notes Section
• Great communicator - comfortable in a fast-paced environment and performance driven
• Coordinating transfers with VISN5 facilities including coordinating transfer-into and out of the VA hospitals and non-VA facilities
• Documenting accurate entries to the Patient Flow Report
• Follows protocols to ensure timely and accurate information from referring institutions and physicians
• Recommends modification in protocol based on change in patient condition
• Expedites the coordination of patient's transfer with physicians - staff RN's and other departments while meeting the utilization standards - supporting a plan of care to optimize patient outcomes and decrease length of stay
• Ensure appropriate level of care based on signs - symptoms and acuity of the patients using clinical skills based on quality - cost effectiveness - best practices and appropriate standards
• Preparing Director's Morning Report
• compile reports of data from discharges - refusals/denials
• Attending and participating in Bed Huddles - Transitioning Level of Care meetings - phone conferences - collaborative meetings - phone conferences - etc
• Responsible for managing communication and processes supporting all patient flow activities
• Uses the Bed Management System (BMS) to view patient bed requests and movement throughout the hospital and interface with the Flow Center - clinical staff - transportation and EMS to assure patient flow occurs in a timely manner
• Serves as resource to services in optimizing BMS
• Performs initial admission screens using approved clinical criteria to assure patient admission and bed assignments are consistent with policy and procedure as well as clinical findings
• Evaluates and negotiates appropriate patient placement - prioritizing according to current senses - staffing situations and knowledge of patient acuity
• Provides oversight for timely bed assignment - triage - prioritizing admissions from different areas (direct admit from home or clinic) ensuring patients are placed in clinically appropriate level of care - using established criteria
• Collaborates with the Nurse Manager using proper chain of command in managing identified delays or barriers
• Leads Gemba walks - soliciting feedback from nursing and ancillary staff regarding bed availability - capacity concerns - unit/staffing concerns - and barriers to smooth patient flow
• Facilitates the coordination of care and services from the ED to inpatient units
• Provide support to emergency department to screen emergency department inpatient
• admissions - and observations using approved criteria during covered hours
• Other responsibilities - as assigned by the supervisor and required by VISN5 directives
• 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 Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 7:30am-4:00pm or 3:00pm-11:30pm (subject to change based on needs of the Service - Facility - and/or Agency)
• Telework: Not Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May not be Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.