The SICU RN maintains BLS and ACLS certification. The SICU RNs are members of the Cardiac Arrest Team and the Rapid Response Team. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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 a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. 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: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) CCRN Certification Preferred 5 years CURRENT Critical Care- Surgical RN Experience ACLS/BLS Certification is REQUIRED 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 and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. 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: 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, 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The registered nurse (RN) provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Illinois Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). The SICU RN maintains BLS and ACLS certification. The SICU RNs are members of the Cardiac Arrest Team and the Rapid Response Team. The RN follows AACN and AHA standards when treating lethal arrhythmias.\n- Understanding of cardiac drugs and vasopressor agents\n- Recognizes early signs and symptoms of cardiac and pulmonary distress\n- Recovers patients following surgery during non-administrative hours and oversees transfer to appropriate level of care\n- Recovers SICU patients following surgeries e.g. neurosurgery, CABG, renal transplant etc.\n- Recognizes signs and symptoms of cardiac and pulmonary distress and notifies appropriate service\n- Maintain normotensive readings\n- Perform pulmonary hygiene\n- Ensures appropriate time out for any invasive procedure in the SICU\n- Knowledgeable in moderate sedation and CCRT care delivery\n- Understanding of ventilators in care delivery through assessment and monitoring of patients\n- Maintain and enforce infection prevention standards\n- Provide a safe environment for all patients with altered sensorium due to medication or acute/chronic illness\n- Knowledgeable of all equipment used in SICU\n- Adheres to hospital policy, SOPs, protocols and guidelines when providing care and documentation in hospital approved electronic charting\n- Knowledgeable in providing end of life care\n- Able to insert appropriate lines following hospital policy and protocols. Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with a comprehensive adult Emergency Department, and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC). There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. The Hines VA Hospital Blind Rehabilitation Center provides services in a residential setting. Home-Based Primary Care is provided in the veteran's home Work Schedule: 12-hour Night Shift, 7:30 pm to 8:00 am, with Rotating Weekends & Holidays\nTelework: NOT authorized\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): NOT authorized\nUniform Allowance: IS AUTHORIZED for this position\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]