Duties

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Come and join our exceptional Medical Surgical Team!!!

Some of the duties and responsibilities for the position include but are not limited to:

• Self-directed with ability to prioritize workload and demonstrate maximum flexibility.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize the nursing process as a problem-solving model.
• Demonstrates an excellent customer service philosophy with both internal and external customers.
• Demonstrates self-motivation and independence in professional development, organization of tasks/assignments for the nursing team and in providing a safe patient care environment.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skills in the completion of medical/surgical care, documentation and standards.
• Skills in patient assessment with the ability to communicate appropriate concerns regarding patient's conditions based on a sound theoretical and technical basis.
• Demonstrates working practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment.
• Accountable for the provision of direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse Veteran population with complex needs.
• Ordering emergent diagnostics such as radiologic x-rays, labs such as blood gases, CBC, electrolyte and electrocardiogram cardiogram 12 lead.
• Knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary setting.
• Demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age related needs of patients.
• Interpreting cardiac arrhythmia and administer appropriate drugs per physician orders.
• Initiate IV's and approved IV medication administration.
• Identifies problematic rhythms, correct pacemaker rhythms, inform physicians of any malfunctions.
• Titration of ordered medication according to established parameters and unit medication policy.
• Other duties include patient and family education, interdisciplinary participation with discharge planning, and other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: To Be Determined. Management reserves the right to determine and/or change the tour of duty.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt
Supervisory Position: No
Bargaining Unit Position: Yes
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives: Recruitment incentive authorized for highly qualified applicants. Incentives include our Education Debt Reduction Program .See below for more details on incentives authorized.
Relocation expenses: Not Authorized
Probationary period: May be required
Financial Disclosure: Not Required

*Incentives:
Education Debt Repayment Plan:

• This position is eligible for Education Debt Repayment Plan (EDRP) based upon the availability of funds. EDRP is an incentive to be used to reimburse education debt costs you accrued in order to obtain your education related to the position you will be filling. Award amounts are determined after review of complete EDRP application and supporting documentation. Final approval by the Under Secretary for Health or designated official verifies EDRP.

Recruitment Incentive:

• $5000 recruitment incentive for 2 year commitment authorized for highly qualified candidates.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2022.

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.
  
  Education: Graduation from School of Nursing
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). 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 current, full, active, and unrestricted registration (see paragraph 2a(3)) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.
Licensure:
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:
• Current ACLS from the American Heart Association.
• Current BLS from the American Heart Association.
• 1-2 years of recent (within the last 3 years) of Medical Surgical Telemetry experience.
• EKG Rhythm Interpretation and Cardiac Monitoring Course.

• 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree.
• 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:
  Lifting/carrying - 45 lbs or more; Standing; Sitting; Walking; Kneeling; Bending/Stooping; Twisting; Pushing/pulling, Both legs required; Simple grasping; Use of fingers, Both hands required; Fine manipulation (includes keyboarding); Reaching above shoulders; Near vision correctable at 13-16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correction in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing whispered voice (with or without aid); Emotional/mental stability; Walking on slippery or uneven walking surfaces; Working with hands in water; Working closely with others; and Protracted or irregular hours of work.

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

Testing Designated Position: 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.
Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses, and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .