Summary

The Registered Nurse will deliver and coordinate safe - efficient - and effective patient care throughout all areas of the facility; while executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribes by a licensed or otherwise authorized provider.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and 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
• Preferred Experience: 2 years ER and/or Critical Care experience preferred
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13098131
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
• It requires restraining confused patients - repositioning patients - assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars - and transporting them to other departments or facilities
• Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients
• The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
• The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• This position requires visual acuity - good hearing - distinctive speech and manual dexterity
• The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect his/herself from physically abusive patients.

Duties

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpaTtyybXFQ Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to - the following: Incorporate position responsibilities and creative approaches to the management of patient care
• Communicate the ability to organize the delivery of care to assure continuity of care for practice - including access to care and discharge planning
• Communicate clinical knowledge and judgement to promote self-involvement in planning - decision-making - and evaluating outcomes
• Possess knowledge of basic clinical practice to the assigned roles and responsibilities
• Aware of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for patients and/or departmental processes
• Collaborate with staff as a team member to incorporate professional standards of care - scientific evidence - and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities
• Seek knowledge in leadership at the unit level that is sustainable - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex situations
• Assume authority - responsibility - and accountability for managing and directing employees - staffing units - and allocating resources as necessary during weekends - holidays - after-hours tours during the absence of nursing management/leadership
• Responsible for rounding and is a consultant to providers
• Collaborate with the Administrative Officer of the Day (AOD) and other members of the interdisciplinary team as needed for decisions related to on-going patient care and actions taken in emergency situations and disasters
• Provide programmatic outcomes to nursing leadership to assist with improving organizational processes and the delivery of patient care
• Responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• Delegate and supervise basic nursing care of licensed practical nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel
• Assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and provide quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Provide urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical - surgical - and psychiatric conditions
• Evaluate practice in and ongoing process - based on best evidence
• Provide peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Contribute professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
• Partner with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Share educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
• Question clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Participate in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based culture
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing care
• Collect pertinent date or information - including triage of patients based on the five-level triage system to prioritize patients that require more immediate care
• Use the assessment data to determine diagnoses - problems - or other concerns
• Identify expected outcomes to develop a collaborative and individualized plan for each patient
• 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: Full-Time (Nights - Weekends - and Holidays) Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized