Physician Assistant (Nephrology)

Summary The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Our hospital provides primary care and specialty health services, including bariatric surgery, mental health care, palliative and hospice care, suicide prevention, women's health care, and more. Below, you'll find our address and hours, parking and transportation information, and the other health services we offer at Washington DC VA Medical Center. Duties Help Clinical:Conducts history and physical exams and develops a plan of care in accordance with standard of care practice and clinical practice guidance established by the attending nephrologist. Clinical duties include daily assessment of the patient, thorough daily review of the chart for vital clinical and laboratory data, planning the dialysis schedule for those with ESKD on dialysis while hospitalized, managing and monitoring dialysis prescriptions, closely communicating on a frequent basis with the dialysis unit charge RN as well as the nephrology attending, and working with the social worker and medicine teams on post hospital follow up plans for continuity of care. The PA is also responsible for monitoring and adjusting dialysis treatments and medications based on lab results, under the supervision of the attending nephrologist. Manages all the patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis who are hospitalized ( typically does not exceed 8-10 patients), an additional 2-3 patients not on dialysis with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease ( as need arises based on total census), writes inpatient dialysis orders, monitors patients' weights, adjusts dry weight/ultrafiltration targets based on volume status assessment, and adjusts medications according to blood pressure and lab values. All these activities will be supervised by the attending physician. Obtains informed consent for dialysis in the inpatient setting if prior one needs renewal. Works with the charge RN of the dialysis unit to provide a list of dialysis patients anticipated for the next day, and ensures all dialysis orders are in place Communicates clearly and frequently with the dialysis unit and the nephrologist about any changes in dialysis plans, new patients being added on for the day, or any clinical concerns for instability while on dialysis. Responds quickly to any alerts from the dialysis unit about a change in clinical status that needs a formal re-assessment. Coordinates continuity of care between the hospital and the outpatient setting, including non-VA dialysis units for continuity of care. Adherence to quality and patient safety standards set forth by the DC VA and the DC VA dialysis unit policies and procedures Adheres to infection control policies and protocols, i.e., hand hygiene. Prescribes and dispenses medications utilizing best practices, under the supervision of the attending nephrologist. Complies with federal, state and local legal and professional requirements. Maintains professional licensing requirements and technical knowledge through continued educational programs and workshops supporting emerging healthcare trends Administrative:Coordinates referrals and evaluation of veterans at the DC Veteran Affairs Medical Center in addition to outside VA's and private sector referrals of Veterans for evaluation and management. Facilitates response/actions to patient inquires for care and treatment provided by the Section. Other administrative duties as needed. Educational:Attends educational activities to maintain certification needs. Completes all TMS training in a timely manner. Participates in educational activities in the Nephrology Section and the Medical Service to ensure updated knowledge of subject content. Makes use of relevant educational materials on an as needed basis (UpToDate, specialty journals via VA access). Work Schedule: 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) 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 CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the next level or grade level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the higher level. Requirements Help 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. 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 (Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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). Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met: Physician Assistant-III (PA-III)(a) Experience and Education. PAs at the PA-III grade are at the full performance level and lead and organize patient care independently, practice within multi- disciplinary teams, and coordinate all aspects of patient care across the health care system. They utilize advanced clinical knowledge and judgment in decision-making and evaluating outcomes. They function as experts in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, may serve as mentors for transitioning PAs, and may provide training for health care students. Individuals can demonstrate the KSAs for the full performance level by: i. Three years of successful practice as a PA. OR ii. Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S. Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA. OR iii. AA doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. PAs at this level are not required to meet each individual KSA listed below to qualify, but should be able to demonstrate, develop, or acquire those not met upon appointment for PA-III: i. Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care. ii. Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE). iii. Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials. iv. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel. v. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.vi. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.Preferred Requirement: At least 2yrs of exposure and experience in a Nephrology setting (outpatient, dialysis or hospital) OR 3yrs of experience in a non Nephrology specialty (Cardiology, Primary Care). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit full performance level of this vacancy is VN-03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-01 to VN-03. Physical Requirements:Lifting up to 35 pounds, intermittently; moderate carrying (15-35 pounds), intermittently; lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care; pulling, intermittently; pushing, intermittently; reaching above the shoulders, intermittently, both hands required; walking, intermittently; standing, intermittently; kneeling, intermittently; and repeated bending. Education Education. Graduate of a training program which is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of PA (ARC-PA) or one of its predecessor organizations. Additionally, candidates must meet one of the following: (1)Master's degree in any discipline; OR (2)Bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a PA.] c. Certification. [Must have successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE). NOTE: Current and continuous certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is no longer required for employment in VHA. (See paragraph 3a in this standard for additional information regarding the certification requirement for employees grandfathered into the occupation.) NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Additional information Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Created: 2026-03-11