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Registered Nurse - Patient Care Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration | Pittsburgh, PA

Posted Date 6/16/2025
Description This Referral Coordination Team (RCT) Registered Nurse (RN) position is located at the University Drive Campus within the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center. This RCT RN is responsible for executing a streamlined approach to receiving, triaging, and directing timely, coordinated care for patients. The RCT RN will be assigned to complete the RCI coordination duties , in collaboration with Community Care.
The RCT RN possesses intimate knowledge of the internal referral care process, clinical review criteria, utilization management standards, clinical documentation requirements, community care regulations, and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) standards and guidelines. The RCT RN uses nursing knowledge and systems theory to assess, organize, facilitate, and guide Veterans through their full range of care options including internal/direct care in Veterans Affairs (VA) and care in the community. The RCT RN serves as a liaison to both internal and community providers and is responsible for managing the care of the Veteran throughout the consult process.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:
  • Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing, and resolving patient care problems.
  • Coordinates care between Medical specialty, radiology, radiation oncology, and surgical specialty to optimize the care of complex Medical Service patients.
  • Expected to exercise independent technical judgments in decision making without readily available supervision, and to possess and apply a comprehensive working knowledge of the principles, art and science of practical nursing.
  • Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Core Team (Patient, Specialty Care Provider, Care Coordinator, LPN, MSA and other clinics) and Expanded Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient).
  • Attends pertinent multi-disciplinary care conferences and tumor board meetings and is responsible for completing documentation within CPRS summarizing findings and recommendations of the providers.
  • Serves as a liaison for the Veteran who is undergoing care in the community and assists in coordinating specified care.
  • Maintains multiple database spreadsheets to track complex medical patients throughout the continuity of care until care is predominately maintained within on medical specialty or until resolution of the tracked condition.
  • Effectively communicates with members of the healthcare team and patient related to the results of tests and labs, and orders additional tests and labs when indicated by a provider.
  • Triages patient phone calls and relay concerns to appropriate care team and assists in coordinating urgent visits within medical service when indicated.
  • Coordinates work-up of patients prior to initial visit with specialty care, including communication with patient regarding the rationale and timing of recommended tests.
  • Assists in reviewing and triaging new consult specific to each section to expedite patient care.
  • Participates, sets priorities, and identifies opportunities to improve nursing performance through data collection and monitoring activities.
  • Use of My HealtheVet and secure messaging portals to expand patient communication and education
  • Flexible in adapting to work demands and numerous assignments
  • Checks voicemail messages at a minimum of 3 times during workdays to include at the beginning and prior to end of shift.
  • Perform other related duties as needed or assigned to support functions of the service as assigned by the Nurse Manager.
  • The incumbent reports directly to the Nurse Manager of Medical Service.
Preferred Experience:
  • Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Exceptional organizational skills
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepared
  • Experience in Gastroenterology and Hepatology nursing
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 7am-330pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not AuthorizedBasic 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/12750814.
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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting up to (35 pounds); heavy carrying up to (35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.
Salary71,087.00 - 153,002.00 Annual

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