Summary

The VA Western New York Healthcare System is seeking a highly qualified full-time Registered Nurse to serve as a member of the Specialty Clinics Team located at the Buffalo VA Medical Center in Buffalo - New York. The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) in the Specialty Clinics Unit is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based outpatient care to assigned patients and for oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.

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/12993244
• 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: VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (RN) on the Specialty Clinics team assists with direct patient care and assesses and monitors patient responses to treatment across the broad range of specialty care provided in any one of 8 physically separate clinic locations at the Buffalo VA (Surgery Clinic - Ortho/Pain/Rheumatology Clinic - Medicine Subspecialty Clinics - ENT Clinic - Podiatry Clinic - Dermatology Clinic)
• RNs in all Specialty Clinic locations assist with rooming/flow of scheduled patient care - and medication administration - complete assessment and triage - and may serve as Charge Nurse in the clinic assigned
• Core elements of performance will include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• These duties include - but are not limited to: Perform a wide variety of clinical tasks to include - but not limited to: rooming patients for scheduled appointments - completing clinical reminders - vital signs - EKG's - administer medications and immunizations - specimen collection - setting up and assisting with procedures - QI monitoring - and other tasks as required by the clinic
• Influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• The RN serves as a leader and oversees LPN's and NA's
• May function as charge nurse - preceptor or mentor to students and others to enhance professional growth - development and practice
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Partner with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes and support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality outpatient nursing care
• Share educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers and provide peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Question outpatient clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care - and influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines - influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Contribute professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
• Participate in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture
• All 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 Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - variable day shifts Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized