Summary Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
The incumbent should be able to do On CALL duties for emergency coordination related to Liver transplant or transportation. Duties Help
Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.
The GI Liver Transplant Care Coordinator Nurse position is assigned to the endoscopy unit and outpatient clinics of the Gastroenterology Section /Medical service of the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS), a level la major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with a Level Ill Emergency Department and multiple community based outpatient clinics (COBC}.
The GI Liver Transplant Care Coordinator nurse duties include the evaluation and direct care of patients. The GI liver transplant care coordinator nurse with validated competencies will also perform liver elastography, Will assist and or perform peritoneal paracentesis and other specialized diagnostic modalities and afterwards retrieve the data recorded during the study. The incumbent will be part of the interdisciplinary team to provide quality care to patients and will provide nursing care to individual patients. The incumbent will need to enter patient information in the computer, which is integral part of medical documentation in our section. The incumbent will also be involved in the established telephone triage program of our Section. The incumbent will attend the section clinics to assist the physician and provide patient and family education. The GI Liver Transplant Care Coordinator Nurse interprets the philosophy and goals of Nursing Service to others in the work setting; functions within established Guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively and develop therapeutic relationships with patients, their families and other professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care.
The Gastroenterology Specialty is extremely busy due to high demand of care of patients with liver conditions in different stages of disease. The Specialty provides services to a high number of patients with hepatic diseases at different severity levels more commonly due to metabolic associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol associated liver disease and chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. In a timely manner, these patients need assessment of liver fibrosis and those with cirrhosis need surveillance every six months for hepatocellular carcinoma as well as management of esophageal varices. The Liver Transplant Care Coordinator position is provides continuous coordination of the medical and social needs of preand post-transplant patients. The Liver Transplant Care Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and the required pre-transplant workup and works closely with the medical team and transport services. In addition, the Liver Transplant Care Coordinator is responsible to coordinate inter-facility transfers to those patients that will be sent to, or received from, any of the VA referred facilities in the US. The Liver Transplant Care Coordinator regularly provides continued coordination of care to all patients throughout their post liver transplant status.
The Liver Transplant Care Coordinator interacts with the medical team and is responsible to collaborate with services internal and external to the VA to facilitate care transition to effectively meet the patients' needs. Provides patient and family health education with a focus on pre- and post-operative patients on therapies for managing health after transplant and serves as team member to monitor and assess progress of patient and offers advice and assistance to patient following transplant at Liver Clinics during the acute post operative phase and long term afterwards at routine continuity clinic appointments. Also contacts liver transplant center as needed pre- and posttransplant to get their input as needed regarding patient clinical course in outpatient setting as well as acute inpatient setting post-transplant if needed. The Liver Transplant Care Coordinator with validated competencies will also perform transient liver elastography (Fibroscan) to veteran's patient's population in need of assessment of liver fibrosis status. In this way will improve access to section's Fibroscan clinics. Regularly provides coordination of care and follow to patients in the following dashboards of the HIV, Hepatitis and Related conditions (HHRC) Data Reports: Advanced liver Disease (ALD) ,Hepatitis C (HCV) Reports - HCV ,Hepatitis B Reports (HBV) and Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements Help
Conditions of employment - 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.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 ( 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).
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:
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: (See Additional Information)
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Requirements: This position involves lifting, moving and transporting patients, assist with transferring patients from wheelchair to to stretcher or radiology suite table and vice versa. Also assist with transferring patients to wheelchairs and/or may need to escort a patient to other areas. This position involves exposure to blood borne pathogens, fine manipulation, standing, walking, bending, crouching and reaching patients. It requires dealing with the acutely ill, with patients who may display disturbed behaviors, and with stressful situations. Moving patients and weighing patients in excess of 50 kg. or more. Wearing of a respirator may be required at times in the performance of the duties of this position. When required to use respirator, employee cannot have facial hair or any condition that interferes with the face to face piece seal or valve function of the respirator. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
Additional information Preferred Experience: - At least two years in pre and post liver transplant coordination of care including tracers to VA Central Office (VACO)
- At least two years of experience providing care to patients with advanced liver disease and with the Hepatic Innovation Team Dashboard
- At least two years of experience providing care to patients with acute and chronic gastrointestinal diseases
- At least two years of hands on experience in transient liver elastography ( Fibroscan)
- Spoken Spanish proficiency preferred.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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