Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care

Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Salary Range: $88971 - $150662 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Major Duties:

• This position is authorized to provide the right candidate with the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) to pay up to $200,000 in qualifying loans! Patient Care Reviews labs and diagnostics in a timely fashion and communicates lab/imaging/test results to Veteran via telephone, face-to-face, secure messaging, or correspondence letter as per VHA Directive (either within 14 days or 7 days as appropriate). Depending on findings, follow up may be assigned to other team members as appropriate based on the sensitivity of the result. In addition to managing an assigned patient panel, the provider will also serve as a GAP provider, providing coverage to colleagues during absences Focuses on the care of medically complex, higher level management patients on the panel and patient experiencing acute exacerbations of their chronic conditions Develops, evaluates, and manages the medical treatment plan for all Veterans on the panel throughout all stages of life including prevention and wellness, acute illness, chronic illness, and end-of-life care Utilizes secure messaging to directly interact with Veterans to share information, such as lab, imaging, and test results and communicate treatment plans Utilizes Health Coaching and Motivational Interviewing to partner with patients and assist with behavior change and guidance toward his or her goals Completes clinical reminders for positive PTSD, depression, alcohol and other clinical reminders as needed or assigned to providers Participates in direct patient-centered care to include scheduled visits and unscheduled/acute visits Promotes same day access by providing multiple modalities of care including non-face-to-face care Performs a comprehensive history and physical at least once a year for each patient on the panel Orders appropriate diagnostic tests to evaluate and manage patients, utilizing VA/DOD practice guidelines Provides appropriate health screening and preventive care according to NCP guidelines Consults with specialty services when indicated and adheres to service line agreements Provides patient education to assist Veteran with disease management and improve self-management skills Completes final medication reconciliation with a copy provided to patient at every encounter Team Work Collaborates with the team to reach PACT goals related to access, continuity, and coordinated care measures and utilizes PACT almanac data to guide improvement efforts Plan today's work to be done today by being proactive in pre-planning for visits with team members and by being responsive to the needs of Veterans and team members in their efforts to assist Veterans Documents clearly and concisely in CPRS to communicate the plan of care with the team, including the Veteran as per VA Medical Center Policy Participates in Inter disciplinary PACT team meetings bi-weekly to include extended PACT team members Monitor panel clinical performance measures and guide the team in setting goals for improvement utilizing PACT tools Diabetes Registry - works with team to manage all diabetics on the panel placing high priority as per EPRP and EQM metrics Primary Care Almanac (at least monthly PACT compass for metrics including panel management, access, continuity, and coordination of care Ensure all preventive screenings completed for the panel to include immunizations, colorectal screen, breast screen and cervical screen for assigned panel of patients in timely manner or as appropriate Opioid Registry- uses database in managing chronic pain patients on opioids by getting I-Med consent, urine drug screen, and providing naloxone for high risk 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 to Friday, 8am to 430pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Learn more

Qualifications: Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) I Basic Requirements Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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). NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment. License: All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Board Certification: All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT, LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION ARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II: Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B). Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required. Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program. Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care. Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice. Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III: Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level. Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program. Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations. Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility. Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 01/13/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12858441. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Application Deadline: 2026-01-13