Summary

The Informaticist Registered Nurse (RN) exercises leadership in the assessment - planning - implementation and evaluation of hardware and software applications integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) and associated programs/applications.

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/12994110
• 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: Registered Nurse Informaticist with hands-on CAC experience and a proven record leading the education - implementation - testing - optimization - and modernization of SLVHCS clinical information systems (VistA/CPRS and related platforms)
• Demonstrates leadership - systems analysis - and creative approaches to design - delivery - and maintenance of informatics solutions that advance safe - effective - and compliant patient care
• Expert in EHR training and competency - workflow transformation - template/reminder builds - system upgrades - and cross functional collaboration with OI&T - HIMS - Clinical Engineering - AOs/ADPACs - and clinical leadership
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds - Light carrying - under 15 pounds - Straight pulling (0.5hrs) - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hand required - Walking(1hrs) - Standing(1hrs) - Repeated bending(0.5hrs) - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Specific visual requirement( one eye required) - Hearing(aid may be permitted)
• Environmental Factors: Excessive noise - intermittent - working closely with others - working alone.

Duties

• The Informaticist Registered Nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary team members - including other program and service leaders at the facility and network
• They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff nationwide
• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• The Informaticist Registered Nurse (RN) exercises leadership in the assessment - planning - implementation and evaluation of hardware and software applications integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) and associated programs/applications
• They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff nationwide
• The Informaticist will assist in directing the provision of education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process - influences outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and executes position responsibilities that demonstrates proficiency and self-directed goal setting for managing complex situations
• The Informaticist Registered Nurse is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility - Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) - or Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) - illustrating performance and leadership that benefit the facility
• Serve as a Clinical Application Coordinator (CAC) with responsibility for EHR configuration - template builds - clinical reminders - consults - menu/order set builds - iMed Consent - and VistA/CPRS upgrades
• Coordinate testing - installation - and training for EHR components and related health information systems
• validating functionality and resolving issues in collaboration with OI&T and clinical stakeholders
• Design implementing - and evaluating education and training programs for clinical information systems - including development of curricula - competency assessments - and course improvement strategies
• Mange in-person and virtual training sessions for Electronic Health Record(EHR) workflows - new employee orientation - trainee onboarding - and ad-hoc sessions for system upgrades and third-party applications
• Tracking training completion and competency through VA Talent Management System (TMS) and other tools
• ensuring compliance with VHA directives - accreditation standards - and local policies
• Develops and maintain SharePoint Online resources for hosting educational materials - tracking attendance - and collecting feedback
• Perform systems analysis and evaluation - hardware/software assessments - and recommending procurement to support clinical and administrative workflows
• Collaborate with VHA Office of Health Informatics - Clinical Informatics and Data Management Office - and Associate Chief of Staff for Clinical Informatics on EHR modernization initiatives and integration of new informatics tools
• Coordinate with OI&T - HIMS - Clinical Engineering - and other services on testing and installation of Vista/CPRS components supporting programs such as Telehealth - COVID-19 - MISSION Act - and Community Care
• Provide secondary ADPAC support and troubleshooting daily operating problems across relevant software modules
• Maintain continuous accreditation readiness
• ensuring proper medical record documentation - coding/billing practices - and safe - effective use of technology
• Plans and prioritizing work assignments
• providing advice and instruction to staff on informatics and administrative matters
• Develops collaborative partnerships and physicians - nurses - and administrative officers to improve clinical workflows and informatics outcomes
• Utilizing SQL - MUMPS - and other tools for data validation - query design - and troubleshooting EHR data/reporting pipelines
• 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 07:30am to 04:00pm
• Subject to change based on the facility needs Telework: Ad-Hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized