Clinical Nurse Consultant (Registered Nurse)

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Nurse Clinical Nurse Consultant (CCRN)

• Focus: Evidence-based practice, care coordination, and quality improvement for complex patient care

Description

The Clinical Nurse Consultant RN supports Community Living Center nursing leadership by implementing and evaluating evidence-based practices to improve patient care. The role coordinates admissions and discharges, supports transitions of care across VA and community settings, and contributes to interdisciplinary planning and compliance with National Directives and VHA documentation requirements. It also performs audits, utilization management, and performance-measure analysis to improve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate resident admissions and discharges, including admission assessments, discharge planning, and transitions of care

• Complete MDS (Minimum Data Set / RAI) interviews and assessments within required timeframes

• Participate in and may lead interdisciplinary treatment team conferences for goal setting, care planning, and evaluation of rehabilitation progress

• Conduct chart, documentation, and clinical practice audits; analyze findings; and support performance improvement activities

• Serve as a clinical resource for complex, high-acuity, or behaviorally challenging residents using PMDB principles and safe patient handling protocols

• Provide quality and performance measures analysis and reporting of trends and systems issues through utilization of the nursing process

• Triage and care-coordinate complex residents and work with Veterans to support smooth transitions to home, community, or VA facilities

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to improve delivery of patient care

• Communicate effectively with Veterans, families, medical staff, and community partners

• Delegate elements of care appropriately based on assessed needs, condition, and safety

• Promote a safe, supportive environment that supports professional development

• Apply the nursing process (data gathering, assessment, nursing judgment) to ensure positive outcomes

• Challenge clinical practices to ensure evidence-based care and help sustain evidence-based-practice initiatives

• Provide direct patient care and assume charge nurse responsibilities as needed to meet staffing, census, and acuity demands

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited per VA policy

• Basic written and spoken English proficiency

• Graduate of an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited professional nursing program (or accepted bridge/foreign-education equivalency path)

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN licensure

• Subject to background/security investigation and required onboarding steps

• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation

• Seasonal influenza vaccination participation is required

• May be required to serve a probationary period

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential for performance awards

• 50 days of paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and paid Federal holidays)

• Traditional federal pension with 5 years vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% VA contributions

• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options (many can be carried into retirement)

Additional information

• Telework: not available; virtual: not a virtual position

• Work schedule: typically 0730–1600, Monday–Friday (may change based on facility needs)

• Relocation/Recruitment incentives and PCS: not authorized