Advanced Practice Nurse- Cardiology

Summary

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) III Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in Cardiology Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities of the position: - As a team with a Physician Cardiologist manages patients with acute and chronic cardiac care needs/health conditions, with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice. - Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve optimal population health and disease management. - Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. - Coordinates and works in collaboration with physicians, peers, patients, families and allied services for appropriate diagnosing and treatment of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases. - Order and interpret labs, tests, and diagnostic studies. - Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. - Initiate referrals and consultations with specialty services. - Provides education to patients and their families on cardiovascular health and disease prevention and prescribed treatment measures. - Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. - Exemplifies the ICARE core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. - Completes E-Consults and coordinate with physicians as needed. - Triage and complete e-consults or routes them to appropriate clinic or service. - Respond to consults, according to policy and procedure. - Determine the pathway to care including clinical evaluation and coordination of care. - Conducts telephone, face to face, VVC and CVT clinics. - Complete History and Physicals (H&P). - Rounds with cardiac surgery on post TAVR and Structural Heart patients, assist with discharge follow up/education Enter data in the VA VART-CL registry. - Assist with Cardiac rehabilitation acute events. - Evaluates, develops and implements treatment plans for inpatient/outpatient General Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmia consults and provide continuity of care, including follow-up for patients seen by the cardiology fellow. - Manages General Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Arrhythmia patients following the management guidelines provided by the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, Heart Failure Society of America, and the Heart Rhythm Society. - Management of diseases may include but are not limited to patients with cardiomyopathies, including ischemic disease, valvular disorders, arrhythmia, and angina. - Reinforces education on diet/fluid intake, close monitoring of weights and vitals and labs, education on abstaining from things that may have caused cardiomyopathy and education on signs and symptoms of CHF exacerbation, introducing GDMT and tailoring medications to avoid readmissions. - Closely monitors to enable early recognition of Heart Failure to current therapy and need for timely advanced therapy referral, managing outpatient inotropes, reviewing home tele notes, initiating GOC discussions and working with the palliative team with end-stage heart failure. - Manages patients during the process of Cardiac Stress Testing including the use of exercise testing or inotropes with supervision from Physician Cardiologist where needed. - Participate in the management of discharge planning needs, including ancillary services. - Provides coverage across Cardiology subspecialties in both inpatient and outpatient settings, aligned with the provider's education, training, experience, and approved privileges. - Outpatient duties will include Cardiology clinics or E-consults at both VAPHS main campus or satellite sites including the Heinz Campus, Beaver, Washington, and Monroeville CBOCs. - Uses Telemedicine technology to provide evaluation and treatment as needed. - Addresses veteran responses or queries via secure emails, secure messaging, and patient phone calls. - Works closely with other specialists, residents, interns, fellows, and primary inpatient care providers. - Precept and assist with training residents, interns, and medical students. - Performs other duties as assigned. V…

Qualifications

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). NOTE: 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 - 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), Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP), Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP), 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. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - 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 skil…