Career Center

Summary

The RN displays knowledge and ability in providing a full range of practical nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems. The RN serves as a responsible member of the nursing team and interacts with patients - family members - professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care - and with members of other services.

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/12721092
• 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: This position requires a pre-employment physical.

Duties

• DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: 1
• Delivers safe care to assigned patients - while developing technical competencies
• 1.1
• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment
• 1.2
• Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures
• 1.3
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately
• 1.4
• Implements physician's/provider's orders in a timely and complete manner
• 1.5
• Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner
• 1.6
• Requests assistance from co-workers when needed
• knows when to ask for help
• 1.7 Identifies patients exhibiting disruptive - threatening & violent behavior or suicidal (DTV) behavior and initiates appropriate interventions
• 2
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments - using the nursing process - based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice
• 2.1
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed
• 2.2
• Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care and establishing goals
• 2.3
• Updates plan of care with assistance as needed
• 2.4
• Assesses patient's learning needs - learning preference and readiness to learn
• 2.5
• Develops and implements a plan in conjunction with the patient/family to meet learning needs - and involvement in basic health teaching and discharge planning
• 3
• Documents the nursing process
• 3.1
• Documentation is consistent - accurate - concise - and timely
• 3.2
• Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes
• 3.3
• Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes
• 3.4
• Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy
• 3.5 Completes all assigned clinical reminders in a timely manner
• 4
• Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills
• 4.1
• The nurse can recognize the patient has a problem
• 4.2
• The nurse can manage the problem safely and effectively - recognizing his/her scope of practice
• 4.3
• The nurse has a relative sense of urgency
• 4.4
• The nurse takes the right action for the right reason (del Bueno)
• 4.5
• The nurse responds and intervenes appropriately to emergency situations 5
• Role-specific Competency Checklist is complete and is rated competent in all measured areas
• 6
• Progressively assuming responsibilities as assigned - seeking assistance as necessary - under the close supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee
• 7
• Adheres to established policies - standards of care and standards or practice
• 8
• Practices within \"Scope of Practice\" based upon state licensure
• Work Schedule: Day/Evening/Night
• Multiple positions available
• Schedule to be discussed at the interview Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Incentives of up to $15 -000 may be authorized for highly qualified applicants