Summary

The Acute Care Registered Nurse (Inpatient) provides age-appropriate nursing care by assessing - planning - implementing - and evaluating patient needs. Coordinates care across the continuum with a focus on education - self-management - and patient satisfaction. Administers medications and procedures per policy - collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to improve outcomes - and demonstrates leadership in managing complex patient care.

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/12987104
• 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/
• Preferred Experience: Bachelor Prepared Nurse 2 years Medical/Surgical Experience

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Major Duties: Provides competent - evidence-based care to medical-surgical and acute care patients
• Formulates plans of care based on nursing assessments and patient needs
• Delegates tasks appropriately to licensed vocational nurses - nursing assistants - health technicians - and other support staff based on patient condition - safety - and scope of practice
• Seeks guidance to improve care and engages in ongoing professional growth and self-directed development
• Integrates principles - foundational theory - and progressively advanced critical thinking in clinical practice
• Oversees and assists with nursing education - orientation - competencies - and staff development
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives and supports enhanced outcomes utilization
• Collaborates with patients - families - and the interdisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective transitions of care
• Demonstrates the ability to manage complex situations - competing priorities - stressful conditions - and life-threatening events
• Validates rationale for care processes - questions clinical practices - and supports evidence-based decision-making
• Exhibits competence in clinical judgment - deliberate planning - and critical thinking
• Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic patient care through collaborative strategies
• Evaluates practice on an ongoing basis using the best available evidence
• Provides peers with constructive feedback - both formally and informally - to support improvement
• Fosters a safe - respectful - and supportive environment that encourages professional development of healthcare staff
• Contributes a nursing perspective in interdisciplinary discussions and partners with others to drive practice changes and improve outcomes
• Shares knowledge - educational findings - insights - and experiences to promote safe - high-quality nursing care
• Participates in activities that sustain a culture of evidence-based practice
• Collaborates in developing - implementing - evaluating - and revising policies - procedures - and clinical guidelines
• Demonstrates leadership and performance that positively affects care for individuals and groups of patients
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions for individuals - groups - and populations
• Accountable for achieving broad - complex program or service-level outcomes across organizational levels
• Performs duties in varied and sometimes modified care environments - including isolation precautions and labor pools
• Maintains professional composure in the presence of infectious risks - chaotic environments - alarms - noise - or combative patients
• Uses personal protective equipment as required for prolonged periods
• Maintains current and valid Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) certifications
• 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: Days/Evenings/Nights/Weekends - Rotating Shifts Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.