Nurse Practitioner (Primary Care)

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification / licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements : United States Citizenship : Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

Education : Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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).

In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.

OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing.

Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript.

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.

Licensure : 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body.

Grade Determinations : The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade.

Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice / experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice / experience;

OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice / experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice / experience.

• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice / experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice / experience;
• OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice / experience;

OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice / experience required.

Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice / experience;

OR a Doctoral degree. Reference : VA Handbook 5005 / 27, Part II, Appendix G-6 Physical Requirements : Walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients.

There may also be extended periods of sitting.