Summary

The VA Health System - has 1 vacancy for a full-time Registered Nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. The RN will be fully qualified and certified to function in a clinical role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

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/12968506
• 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 visual acuity - keen hearing
• clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - lifting - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent 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 incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent 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 incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (Critical Care (CICU) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• The Registered Nurse (RN) provides competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate in the Nursing Critical Care setting
• Leads the provision of nursing care to patients with complex care needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with the American Nursing Association (ANA Standards of Nursing Practice
• Other responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to the following: Provides direct care for acutely/critically ill patients who are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems - regardless of the setting for nursing care
• Provides high intensity care and vigilance - while refining assessment skills and blending in data obtained from a variety of invasive/non-invasive monitoring technology
• Demonstrates and applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning - decision making - and evaluating outcomes within the immediate Critical Care practice setting
• NOTE: The Critical Care/Coronary Intensive Care Unit is an 8-bed cardiac care unit that delivers intensive care to adult male/female patients experiencing Acute Coronary Syndrome (unstable angina - myocardial infarction - or require thrombolytic therapy) - Congestive Heart Failure or Cardiogenic Shock
• In addition - care is provided for patients that have undergone invasive cardiac procedures - such as balloon angioplasty - directional coronary atherectomy - laser atherectomy - placement of intracoronary stents - pacemaker implants - radiofrequency ablations - or automatic implantable cardiac defibrillators in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab or the Electrophysiology Lab
• Registered Nurses provide patient and family centered care in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians - who support patients and families in decision-making
• A team of Internists with specialty in cardiology manages the medical needs of patients
• The interdisciplinary needs of patients and families are met through collaboration with ancillary services to include Pharmacy - Laboratory - Dietary - Social Work - Chaplin - and Radiology
• Specialty Care and services are available through consultation and are utilized as needed to ensure continuity and progression of care
• Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated on admission and continues throughout hospitalization
• Occasionally medical and/or surgical critical care patients are admitted when no beds are available in the SICU and/or MICU
• Preferred Experience/Education/Certification(s): Minimum of two years of experience in Cardiac Intensive Care or other Critical Care experience Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients - families and other members of the interdisciplinary team Demonstrated skills in decision-making - sound clinical judgment and critical-thinking abilities
• Demonstrated ability to use computer systems in support of patient care delivery
• Prior VA experience Education: Bachelor Science Nursing (BSN) Certification(s): American Nurses Credentialing Certification (ANCC) for Cardiac- Vascular Nursing/ANCC for Critical Care and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)/Basic Life Support (BLS) 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: Full time -12 hour tour nights/days with rotating weekends Telework: NO Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NO EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact ???????visn6hrduredrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
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