Summary

This is an open continuous announcement. See "Additional Information" below. The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System is recruiting for two RNs to perform duties with the 5 East Acute Care Inpatient team - an acute surgical unit that includes Orthopedics - Vascular - Cardio-Thoracic - General Surgery - Urology - Ophthalmology - Plastic and GYN Surgery. The majority of patients have secondary medical chronic diagnosis. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

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/12931910
• 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 experience: 2+ years prior acute care medical/surgical unit experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over) - straight pulling (6 hours) - pushing (2 hours) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking (6 hours) - standing (2 hours) - repeated bending (6 hours) - both legs required - ability to distinguish basic colors - visual acuity 20/30 corrected

Duties

• Duties will include but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care
• Delivers safe care to assigned patients - while developing technical competencies
• Responsible for maintaining competencies and required job duties such as reading email - attending in-services - and actively participating in staff meetings
• Completes mandatory trainings including but not limited to Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) - Safe Patient Handling (SPH) - Basic Life Support (BLS) - NIHSS - and RALS
• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment
• Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately
• Implements physician's/provider's orders in a timely and complete manner
• Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner
• Requests assistance from co-workers when needed
• knows when to ask for help
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments - using the nursing process - based on the ANA Standards of Nursing
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed
• Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care and establishing goals Updates plan of care with assistance as needed
• Assesses patient's learning needs - learning preference and readiness to learn
• Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs - instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning
• Documentation is consistent - accurate - concise - and timely
• Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes
• Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes
• Uses the Electronic Health Record (EHR) software per policy
• Work in a team format with NAs and LPNs and delegates follows up on tasks
• Delivers medications using BCMA
• Provides complex wound care
• Administers blood products as ordered
• Administers IV Fluids - TPN - Lipids - PCA and manages multiple IV medications while checking compatibility
• Documentation of training must be completed prior to performing any specialty skills such as continuous bladder irrigation - epidural medication administration - peripheral nerve catheter medication administration - chest tube care - blood product transfusions - and tracheostomy care
• Completes cardiac telemetry monitoring training and passes exam with 80% or greater within first 6 months of working on an Acute Care unit
• Monitors telemetry and responds to rhythm changes timely
• Adheres to remote telemetry procedures and policies outlined in SOP T-046 Remote Telemetry Monitoring
• Prior to administering ordered chemotherapy/biotherapies - completes chemotherapy/biotherapy training and passes exam with 80% or greater
• Prior to monitoring EEG - complete EEG monitoring training
• Performs other duties as assigned 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 Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date
• Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance
• Work Schedule: Full-time
• Night shifts - 7:30pm - 8:00am and 11:30pm - 8:00am with rotating weekends and holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized