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Open to U.S. Citizens. Open to current permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including the facility, CBOCs where this vacancy is located) serving on career/career-conditional appointments and past, current, upcoming VHA Health Professional Trainee eligible (HPT) (HPT NOTE: Veteran's Preference applies only when equally qualified [Per HRML 05-09-02]. "VA remains committed to honoring our Nation's Veterans by ensuring a safe environment to deliver exceptional health care." 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: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in 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. Note: ensure the 10-2850a lists all current or previous licensure for verification. While this announcement is posted at various grade levels, the Professional Standards Board will determine the grade assignment of a selected candidate. 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 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. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. BLS/ACLS Requirements: Current certification in Basis Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required for all staff providing direct patient care and working in PCU. If you are selected, you will be required to have proof of certification prior to being boarded for appointment with VA or obtain such certification in order to avoid any delays in the hiring process. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: 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. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a patient care setting; adequately lighted, temperature controlled, and ventilated. Office temperatures fluctuate periodically; involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as clinics, offices, meeting and training rooms or libraries; exposure to noise and dust on occasion. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. ["Inpatient Surgery Acute Care Unit (2F) staff nurse reports to the unit nurse manager. 2F provides comprehensive, coordinated, patient centered care to the perioperative patient 24 hours a day/7 day a week. This thirty-bed unit provides telemetry monitored individualized care to the preoperative and post-operative surgical patient population. It can include pre-operative/procedural and post-operative/procedural care, psychological monitoring, administration of medications to include IV therapy, pain management, discharge planning and discharge teaching. We service about 13 different specialties to include Cardiothoracic surgery, Vascular Surgery, Neurosurgery, Bariatric Surgery. The average age of the patient population is 60-90 years old; the average BMI is 25 or greater. The complexity of patient care is patient-specific and directly related to high patient acuity. Other duties include but not limited to: Collects current symptoms, as well as a detailed patient history and then consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans Performs triage, while considering both physical and psychosocial elements Manages basic life support needs and stabilizes patients until the attending physician is available, based upon nursing standards and protocol Initiates corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse symptomatology Records patients' current vital signs Works directly under physicians, assisting them during exams, diagnostic testing, and treatments Prepares and administers (orally, subcutaneously, through an IV) and records prescribed medications. Reports adverse reactions to medications or treatments in accordance with the policy regarding the administration of medications by a licensed registered nurse Maintains proper supplies and appropriate medical equipment to care for patients Initiates patient education plan, as prescribed by physician. Teaches patients and significant others how to manage their illness/injury, by explaining: post-treatment home care needs, diet/nutrition/exercise programs, self-administration of medication and rehabilitation, as well as provides referrals to other healthcare professionals for follow-up treatment Displays professionalism while completing multiple urgent tasks in a timely manner Records all care information concisely, accurately, and completely, in a timely manner, in the appropriate format and on the appropriate forms Work Schedule: Day shift with evening rotations or Day shift with night rotations, every other weekend and every other holiday required. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Authorized\nTelework schedules: Not authorized\nVirtual work schedules: Not authorized\nProbationary Period: May be Required\nFLSA: Nonexempt\nBU Status: BU\nRecruitment Incentives: NOT authorized\nRelocation Expenses: NOT authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: NOT required\nPermanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses: will not be paid\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized\nPay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.\nPaid Time Off: Receive 13 to 26 days paid time off per year, including 10 paid federal holidays; 13 sick days annual with no limitation on accumulation.\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years' vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).\nFor More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits\nFunctional Statement RN I, II, III FS# 000000\nVHA Nursing brochure https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Careers/Nursing"]