Clarification from the agency

All US citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Resident Assessment Coordinator (RAC) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned residents with oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting. The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization. Leading the CLC Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI)/Minimum Data Set (MDS) program, which includes serving as the Facility Administrator of the RAI/MDS program and MDS software and promoting the application of the RAI/MDS Assessment for resident care planning. Directing the RAI/MDS RN who is responsible for coding for nursing assigned sections and Care Area Assessments
(CAAs). Identifying CLC Interdisciplinary Team members to conduct the interrater reliability reviews, which must be conducted, at a minimum, quarterly. Collaborating with CLC management or charge nurse to support the CLC Interdisciplinary Team members conducting the interrater reliability review, at a minimum, quarterly, which assesses the accuracy of the RAI/MDS Assessment and reporting trends of errors identified. Completing the interrater reliability quarterly report and submitting it to the CLC leadership team. In the absence of a CLC MDS RN, the CLC RAC must document and take corrective action when notified of any discrepancies in coding or documentation during the interrater reliability review. Transmitting RAI/MDS Assessments to the Austin Information Technology Center. Communicating Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines changes, educational sessions, MDS coding
changes and RAI/MDS program updates to CLC staff and developing and implementing educational plans for CLC staff to ensure ongoing education for the completion of the RAI/MDS process and software. Ensuring, in accordance with current CMS and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) requirements, completion of the RAI/MDS Assessment by the CLC Interdisciplinary Team and providing recommendations, developing, and updating procedures related to the RAI/MDS process. Educating CLC staff on the RAI/MDS process to ensure appropriate completion. Serving as an expert consultant in identifying quality of care deficiencies and assisting with performance improvement projects related to quality management and CLC Compare. Responsible for downloading, validating, and distributing quality management and Resource Utilization Group (RUG) reports and distributing them to the CLC Interdisciplinary Team and leadership. Assisting with continued survey readiness for the annual unannounced survey process and Interim Quality Oversight survey readiness for the CLC. Ensuring the CLC meets regulatory guidelines for scheduling quarterly and comprehensive MDS assessments as outlined in the MDS guidelines. This nurse has fundamental experience with the situations in which they are ultimately expected to perform, integrating theoretical concepts, basic critical thinking skills, and technically skilled practice.

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, 7:30a - 4:00p. Work schedule subject to change based on agency need.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentive: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

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.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.)

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps