Clarification from the agency

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

***THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

The OCN RN assists Veterans, family members, and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs. Coordinates care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care. Coordination also includes assuring services interface within the Veterans Affairs and community programs to provide continuity of care to patients. Provides oversight of the patient's journey through the diagnostic and treatment continuum, ensuring that all steps in the process are scheduled, timely and completed, while tracking the overall treatment plan. OCN RN will identify and eliminates barriers to care for patients in need of oncology care and coordinates care across the continuum and through transitions in care. OCN RN will follow certain patients from the earliest suspicion of cancer through the continuum of cancer care including diagnosis, treatment, survivorship/surveillance, or palliation/end of life.
The OCN RN is 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. The OCN RN will develop and execute appropriate multi-disciplinary oncology navigation activities in collaboration with interdisciplinary team -IDT as needed in support of the Veteran's health needs. The OCN RN is responsible for outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key community
stakeholders -e.g., community hospitals and providers, etc.-.
The OCN RN will interface with outside referral agencies and ensure that their business and clinical practices are compliant with regulatory standards. Anticipates and implements preventive patient care measures. Possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs, providing care as considered necessary. Provides guidance and education to patients and caregivers and collaborates with other professionals at all levels. Addresses psychosocial, as well as nursing and medical needs of patients and their families/caregivers, through participation with the interdisciplinary care team. Ensures the plan of care and educational requirements are individualized and tailored specifically to support each individual patient's needs. Reports status of service needs and
contributes to problem resolution and modification of processes as necessary. Evaluates care and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate provision of services. Advocates for holistic care through patient/family education and provider interaction and implements an educational plan to meet the patient care needs. The OCN provides education/training to all clinicians and services on the OCN's role and processes. The OCN RN documents all encounters in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR). Additionally, the incumbent documents all Veteran interactions/encounters/communication
using face-to-face, Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT), telephonic, VA Video Connect (VVC), or secure message (SM) in EMR. Will appropriately code encounters/communication/historical notes using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Evaluation and Management (E&M), and DM-specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes. Encounters will be completed and signed within 72 hours of initiation. The incumbent conducts nursing peer reviews as assigned. OCN RN participates in local and VISN oncology-related meetings including conferences and committees.

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, 08:00am-04:30pm
Telework: Available Ad Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.)
• HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

• At least 2 years Oncology experience in an acute/ambulatory care setting.
• At least 2 years of experience in Case Management and working with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experienced collaborator with internal and external care providers specifically in medical care transition of patients.
• Experience with high volumes of workload (patient census) with demonstrated flexibility and professionalism in support of patient care standards.
• Experience with educating patients, families, and caregivers on the diagnostic and staging process as well as current emerging treatment options available.
• Ability to communicate professionally/effectively in both written and verbal correspondence, on the phone, and/or in-person.

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 (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps