Question for VA nurses

dolphinRN · Jan 13, 2005

Just wondering, how many of your facillities have a BCMA coordinator position?
Our facillity is just now initiating this position & I am wondering how rewarding a position this would be. I am of the understanding it would still fall under PCS however I don't know if one would be considered administration or not. It would make a difference in being able to work any OT. This individual, from what I understand, would be responsible for connecting all facillities in that VISON. Travel between facillities therefore would be required & expected. Hours are dayshift M-F so no shift differential or holiday pay...
Anyone have any feedback on this position?

We don't have someone that does this as their only role. If it is going from VA to VA in the VISN, wouldn't it be at the VISN level and not just for the hospital? I don't work with the BCMA system in my current role, but I do remember all the whining that the nurses did when it was started and whenever changes were made. What would be nice is if all the VISNs would do something like this, but also incorporate CPRS. Get a nurse who is very computer savvy in the position that also is a good teacher that doesn't frustrate easily.

As for if it is a worthwhile position....it would depend on your feelings about not being completely involved in patient care, the traveling involved, if you would miss the differential....

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 14, 2005

Just wondering, how many of your facillities have a BCMA coordinator position?
Our facillity is just now initiating this position & I am wondering how rewarding a position this would be. I am of the understanding it would still fall under PCS however I don't know if one would be considered administration or not. It would make a difference in being able to work any OT. This individual, from what I understand, would be responsible for connecting all facillities in that VISON. Travel between facillities therefore would be required & expected. Hours are dayshift M-F so no shift differential or holiday pay...
Anyone have any feedback on this position?

I would imagine this to be a hospital based position. If the VISN was going to have a position of this nature, it would probably be more on the end of updates, planning as well as tech support.

In our hospital, the BCMA and CPRS are supported by a core of nurses (I think 2 to be exact). They are available all hours of the day and night and are expected to come into work to assist the nurses if there are any problems. If your hospital is considering this type of position, I would ask many questions. Of course, if your life is not comsumed with family obligations and it is a VISN position, it would mean a lot of travel .... not only within your particular VISN, but with to other areas of the region as well.

Good luck if this is something you are interested in pursuing.

TitaniaSidhe · Jan 14, 2005

We already have the positions you have mentioned & yes there are I am thinking three nurses functioning in this capacity right now. What I am hearing is that this will be a newly created position which is springing from the need for more input & correction of BCMA. The committes are finding many errors & thus after so many years they have finally come to the conclusion that this is a needed position to correct & improve BCMA. This person would work effectively with Nursing, IRM, Pharmacy, Physicians, etc. At the moment they are only initiating this in our VISON, the job is just being posted. I have been lead however to understand that many of the VISON's around already have a person functioning in this position, this is why I was asking. I was curious to see if anyone else had heard of it.

I mean it could be a good thing, it i certainly a necessary thing. Personally I like the computerized records & such but the system as of right now is still very flawed with MANY bugs to be worked out for accuracy & cost effectiveness. I suppose like any new thing it will take some time to get it efficient. LOL, knowing the VA it will take years but hey at least they are finally acknowledging there is a problem that needs fixed.

Many thanks for the input.

BCMAqueen · Jan 16, 2005

Just wondering, how many of your facillities have a BCMA coordinator position?
I have been selected to be BCMA Coordinator. I am currently the charge nurse of my unit, BCMA/CPRS super user, and belong to 9 other committees. The coordinator position has been added on to my previously assigned duties.
So far the position has required bi-weekly conference calls, BCMA patch testing, and educating all users on what is new in BCMA. I believe it is a mandatory position VA wide but not all facillities have the funding to create the position.???
My frustration comes with the fact that the position should have been created when BCMA first entered the VA. Now that I have the title I am the one responsible for getting the information out to all users and train new ones. My eight hour day is already ten and I am not sure I will be able to give the position the time and respect it deserves.