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/12938149
• Grade/Level Scope Education 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: Experience in primary care or ambulatory care settings, preferably in a VA or similar integrated health system, with demonstrated responsibility for clinic operations or care coordination
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience over administrative and/or nursing staff, including performance management, staff development, and team building
• Demonstrated success leading quality improvement or patient safety initiatives using data-driven methods (e.g., performance dashboards, panel management metrics, population health indicators)
• Experience managing or supporting programs such as Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT), population health management, or MOVE! / Weight-management or lifestyle programs
• Strong skills in clinic workflow optimization, patient flow, and access management (e.g., panel size management, wait time reduction, no-show mitigation)
• Proficiency with VA clinical and administrative systems (e.g., CPRS/EEHR, scheduling systems, VHA dashboards) or comparable electronic health record and scheduling tools
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement regulatory, accreditation, and policy requirements in a clinical setting (e.g., The Joint Commission, VHA directives, infection control, environment of care)
• Experience working with diverse Veteran populations across the adult lifespan, integrating age-specific, developmental, and lifestyle needs into care processes
• Strong communication, conflict resolution, and customer service skills, including experience addressing patient complaints and facilitating interprofessional collaboration
• Formal training or experience in change management, leadership, or process improvement (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, High Reliability Organization principles) is desirable
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting, under 15 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Straight Pulling (.5 hours)
• Pushing (.25 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers: Both hands required: Walking (1 hour)
• Standing (1 hour)
• Kneeling (.5 hours)
• Repeated bending (.5 hour)
• Climbing, legs only (.5 hours)
• Climbing, use of legs and arms
• Both legs required
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Environmental Factors: Solvents (degreasing agents)
• Slippery or uneven walking surfaces
• Working around machinery with moving parts
• Working around moving objects or vehicles
• Working with hands in water
• Working closely with others
• Working alone.