Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Surgical Care

This position is located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee Wisconsin, in the Surgical Care Division. The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) II Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in the Pre-Operative / Pre-Procedure Clinic to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management.

Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Assess the Veterans, their planned operative procedure, co-morbidities, and help risk stratify the patient so that pre-operative evaluation can occur by the most appropriate clinic. Perform the pre-operative history & physical exam following the templated note in the electronic health record (EHR) to ensure all Veteran risk factors are captured for the most accurate risk assessment. Review all pertinent EHR notes, lab tests, X-Ray exams, cardiac tests, pulmonary function tests, and other pertinent information for the patient in developing the assessment of the Veteran undergoing a surgical procedure. Communicate with referring sections and/or surgeons performing the surgical procedure with any patient concerns or recommendations. Based on Veteran history & physical, review of EHR notes and results of tests and planned procedure(s), make recommendations to proceed with planned operation or to order additional testing prior to surgery; communicate recommendations to the referring team. Collaborate with COTC RN staff, anesthesia provider(s), Primary Care provider, consult teams (Cardiology, Pulmonology, etc.), and referring providers as needed to develop a pre-operative assessment of the patient. Facilitate, coordinate, and monitor the patient's progress through the pre-operative clinic, including recommended additional testing to ensure timely preparation for the surgical procedure. Initiate referrals and consults to specialty services. Assist in the development of clinical protocols, policies, procedures and plans of care reflecting specific needs of the pre-operative patient. Utilize evidence-based practice in the pre-operative clinic. Provide education to the patient and family on the pre-operative process, patient morbidities, patient lifestyle concerns, etc., as needed. Assesse and adjust the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes. Identify deviations from established protocols, care standards, and clinical pathways; investigate and actively intervene to correct variances as appropriate. Support the interdisciplinary team caring for the patients by updating knowledge and skills through literature reviews, discussions and presentations. Function as a role model for the nursing staff and actively participates in the care of the pre-operative Veteran. Assist in the orientation of new staff to the pre-operative clinic. Maintain competence through attendance at job-related educational opportunities. Demonstrate leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. Prescribe pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, as appropriate. 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 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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 evaluation. 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.