Registered Nurse - Surgical Acute Care

Summary
The 3-West Registered Nurse manages the care of the acutely ill postoperative surgical, neurology, and medicine patient through collaboration with nursing staff, physicians and other health care providers. The Registered Nurse coordinates and facilitates care to restore stability, minimize complications, and achieve optimal patient outcomes within a dynamic, Acute Care environment.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
This Announcement is open to U.S. Citizens
This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Internal to an agency

This job is also open in another announcement to:

• Internal to an agency

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Duties
The 3-West Registered Nurse is a professional who manages the care of the acutely ill postoperative surgical, neurology, and medicine patient through collaboration with nursing staff, physicians and other health care providers. The Registered Nurse coordinates and facilitates care to restore stability, minimize complications, and achieve optimal patient outcomes within a dynamic, Acute Care environment. In order to accomplish this, the professional nurse uses the Nursing Process in the facilitation and coordination of care for patients with an interdisciplinary team of caregivers.
The 3-West Registered Nurse is a registered professional nurse who is accountable for the provision of patient care on 3-West and is directly responsible to the Nurse Manager. The Registered Nurse must demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a team member and must be able to communicate, listen, report and gather crucial data in a manner that enhances patient outcomes.
The Inpatient Acute Surgical Unit supports professional growth through education activities, attendance and participation on unit or hospital committees, Quality Improvement projects, or membership in professional organizations
3-West is an inpatient unit which operates 24 hours per day 7 days a week caring for veteran patients. All 3-West Registered Nurse's are hired for and are subject to a rotating work schedule, to include the dayshift, evening shift, nightshift, and holidays and may be rotated according to the patients' and unit's needs.
MAJOR DUTIES:

• Complete admission assessment on assigned patients within 24 hours of admission
• Conduct ongoing and/or urgent reassessments to determine rapidly changing conditions of patients
• Take telephone orders per policy
• Verify physicians' orders using CPRS
• Complete patient care plans according to policy
• Plan for discharge/transfer of patients including completing discharge/transfer note in CPRS
• Administer medications and documents in BCMA
• Provide individualized patient care
• Proactive in identifying potential crisis situations and respond appropriately in emergency/code situations
• Initiate referrals and/or consultations
• Function independently in performing more complex treatments, procedures and advanced technology specific to the scope of care on 3-West (all surgical specialties and neurology)
• Perform procedures within his/her scope of practice and unit based competencies (Procedure Grid in Procedure Manual)
• Monitor LVAD and cardiac monitored patients. Work with Telemetry Tech to detect arrhythmias
• Implement appropriate interventions defined by unit policy
• Perform blood draws and venipuncture for administration of IV fluids, administer IV fluids, IV push medications, TPN and blood products according to policy
• Set up and monitor PCA pumps
• Perform complex wound and ostomy care
• Promote and provide health care teaching to patient and significant others
• Monitor and interpret cardiac rhythms
• Administer IV medications, titrate according to MD's order and the patients' needs
• Function competently as a modular and/or charge nurse
• Make patient assignments and complete 24 hour report and communicate the shift report
• Demonstrate ability to manage the daily routine operations related to patient care on the clinical unit - Example: delegating, supervising, troubleshooting, and evaluating
• Delegate duties/patient care activities to LPN/SNT/HTs based on scope of practice and complexity of patients taking into consideration skill level of staff
• Obtain supplemental staff as needed considering patient acuities, unit census, staffing mix, etc.
• Participate in clinical supervision of nursing staff, nursing students and new hires
• Communicate understanding objectives and expected competencies of orientees and students
• Mentor
• Collaborate with team members, other disciplines and patient/significant others
• Recognize and use the knowledge and expertise of colleagues and other health care providers

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: Rotating Shifts - Varies, Weekends, and Holidays
Compressed/Flexible: Not Eligible
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Mykia.Singleton@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Requirements
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.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience: Preferred One Year Experience - Night Shift
Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The Registered Nurse may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The Registered Nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The Registered Nurse must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The Registered Nurse who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The age...