Summary

Join the Central Virginia VA Health Care System Acute Care Team! The Inpatient Registered Nurse provides care to Telemetry and Acute Medical Surgical Patients inclusive of but not limited to Congestive Heart Failure - Unstable Angina - Cardiac Arrhythmia - Cardiomyopathy - Status-Post Myocardial Infarction - Milrinone and Dobutamine infusion maintenance - Status-Post Cardiac Catheterization (PCI) - Electrophysiology (EP) - Syncope and Overdose. In addition - patient care services are offered to patients.

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
• 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/12916588
• 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
• Preferred Education and/or Certification(s): Certification of CMSRN - RN-BC and/or PCCN The full performance level of this vacancy is Nurse III
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Nurse I to Nurse III
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse possesses a broad-based clinical knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative - interdisciplinary practice setting
• The Staff Registered Nurse effectively implements activities towards health promotion and prevention - management of acute and chronic illness states - assisting the veterans in attainment of optimal levels of functioning through rehabilitation and provision of supportive measures for the dying patient and their significant others
• The Registered Nurse is directly responsible to the 4B/4C (Inpatient) Nurse Manager
• The 4B/4C Staff Registered Nurse possesses a broad-based clinical knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative - interdisciplinary practice setting
• The 4B/4C Staff Registered Nurse effectively implements activities towards health promotion and prevention - management of acute and chronic illness states - assisting the veterans in attainment of optimal levels of functioning through rehabilitation and provision of supportive measures for the dying patient and their significant others
• The Registered Nurse is directly responsible to the 4B/4C Nurse Manager
• The 4B/4C Staff Registered Nurse provides care to Telemetry and Acute Medical Surgical Patients inclusive of but not limited to Congestive Heart Failure - Unstable Angina - Cardiac Arrhythmia - Cardiomyopathy - Status-Post Myocardial Infarction - Milrinone and Dobutamine infusion maintenance - Status-Post Cardiac Catheterization (PCI) - Electrophysiology (EP) - Syncope and Overdose
• In addition - patient care services are offered to patients
• The function of the Registered Nurse is to provide - direct and supervise the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population
• Functions or scope of assigned duties include but are not limited to: Demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs and specific care of the patients served in the assigned area of practice
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to support optimal patient outcomes
• Administration & Monitoring of Medications
• Cardiac/Telemetry Monitoring is part of this position and can/will be trained upon hire
• Advanced Vascular Access Care and Maintenance
• Facilitation of Homecare referrals and recommendations to support ongoing veteran needs
• Demonstrates professional communication and conduct
• Recognizes and supports Suicide Prevention initiatives
• Work collaboratively with all levels of health care professionals and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes
• Compliance with various Isolation Precautions and Infection Control Guidelines
• Skills in time management - priority setting - assessment and urgent intervention are essential for this unit
• Maintains prevention & management of disruptive behavior skills - can be trained upon hire
• Patient and caregiver education and support
• Participation in High Reliability Organization (HRO) & professional governance initiatives
• Promotes evidence-based best practices and nurse sensitive indicators (including but not limited to Falls Prevention - Hospital Associated Infection Prevention - Medication error prevention - Safe Patient Handling - and Skin Safety)
• Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of Inpatient hospital experience in medicine - surgical or PCU/stepdown level of care
• BLS & ACLS certification is required for this position and can be obtained upon hire
• 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: Day Shift 7:30a.m.-8:00p.m
• and 7:30a.m.-4:00p.m
• (Every other weekend and holiday requirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized