The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System is recruiting for a Registered Nurse to perform duties in the Acute Care Inpatient unit at the Seattle VA Medical Center. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Please see "Duties" below for more information. 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/12625707. 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. Preferred Experience: Bachelor of Science in Nursing 1-2 years prior experience as registered nurse Previous inpatient care experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (6 hours), pushing (2 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (2 hours), repeated bending (6 hours), visual acuity 20/30 corrected. ["Duties may include but are not limited to: 1. Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care. 2. Delivers safe care to assigned patients, while developing technical competencies. 3. Responsible for maintaining competencies and required job duties such as reading email, attending in-services, and actively participating in staff meetings. 4. Completes mandatory trainings including but not limited to Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB), Safe Patient Handling (SPH), Basic Life Support (BLS), NIHSS, and RALS. 5. Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment. 6. Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures. 7. Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately. 8. Implements physician's/provider's orders in a timely and complete manner. 9. Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner. 10. Requests assistance from co-workers when needed; knows when to ask for help. 11. Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments, using the nursing process, based on the ANA Standards of Nursing. 12. Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed. 13. Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care and establishing goals. 14. Updates plan of care with assistance as needed. 15. Assesses patient's learning needs, learning preference and readiness to learn. 16. Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning. 17. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise, and timely. 18. Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes. 19. Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes. 20. Uses the Electronic Health Record (EHR) software per policy. 21. Work in a team format with NAs and LPNs and delegates follows up on tasks. 22. Delivers medications using BCMA. 23. Provides complex wound care.24. Administers blood products as ordered. 25. Administers IV Fluids, TPN, Lipids, PCA and manages multiple IV medications while checking compatibility. 26. Documentation of training must be completed prior to performing any specialty skills such as continuous bladder irrigation, epidural medication administration, peripheral nerve catheter medication administration, chest tube care, blood product transfusions, and tracheostomy care. 27. Completes cardiac telemetry monitoring training and passes exam with 80% or greater within first 6 months of working on an Acute Care unit. 28. Monitors telemetry and responds to rhythm changes timely. 29. Adheres to remote telemetry procedures and policies outlined in SOP T-046 Remote Telemetry Monitoring. 30. Prior to administering ordered chemotherapy/biotherapies, completes chemotherapy/biotherapy training and passes exam with 800/o or greater. 31. Prior to monitoring EEG, complete EEG monitoring training. 32. Performs 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. Day shifts. Compressed tour of six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift in two weeks (7:30am - 8:00pm and 7:30am - 4:00pm). Every other weekend and rotating holidays required. Compressed/Flexible: Available, as described above. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.