The MICU RN maintains BLS and ACLS certification. The MICU 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) 3-5 Years ICU RN Experience ACLS/BLS Certification is REQUIRED CCRN Certification is Preferred 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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 MICU RN maintains BLS and ACLS certification. The MICU RNs are members of the Cardiac Arrest Team and the Rapid Response Team. The RN follows AACN and AHA standards when treating lethal arrhythmias. Provides direct care for but not limited to: Sepsis, status post RRT events or Cardiac Arrest, Stroke, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, AMI, GI bleed, Hematology/Oncology conditions, post-op procedures, CHF and patients requiring antiarrhythmic drugs. - Recognizes early signs and symptoms of cardiac and pulmonary distress. - Comprehension of administration/dosage of pressor agents or antiarrhythmics. - Monitors hemodynamic status and initiates and titrates these agents to maintain normotensive readings based on physician orders. - Recognizes early signs and symptoms of cardiac and pulmonary distress. - Comprehension of administration/dosage of pressor agents or antiarrhythmics. - Collaborates with LIPs regarding pulmonary status on various modalities of invasive and noninvasive ventilation such as Opti-flow, Bi-Pap, C-Pap, and mechanical ventilation and follows all protocols for weaning patients. - Ensures appropriate time outs performed on all invasive procedures. - Assist with invasive lines and bedside procedures such as Central and Arterial Lines, temporary pacemaker, dialysis catheters, chest tube, TEE, cardioversions, bronchoscopy, GI procedures, Impella, and IABP etc. - Monitor, assess, and intervene on patients with various intensive therapies e.g. hypothermia Protocol, Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT). - Administer moderate sedation during procedures and assess/monitor patient status. - Assess and monitor patient's status post cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures. The RN adheres and enforces Infection Prevention Standards. The RN will provide a safe environment for all patients with altered sensorium due to medication or acute/chronic illness and follow protocols to maintain safety. The RN maintains competency of various types of equipment in the CMICU. The RN adheres to facility and unit SOPs, protocols and guidelines regarding documentation. The RN follows the protocols for End of Life issues providing supportive measures for patient and significant others. 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. 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: 7:30pm 8:00am, Rotating Holidays and Weekends Compressed/Flexible: NOT Authorized Telework: NOT Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT Authorized Uniform Allowance: IS AUTHORIZED for this position Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
