Registered Nurse

1. Medical/Surgical Telemetry Unit Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate optimal care.

• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction.
• Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments. Seeks guidance in how to improve care provided to patients and families.
• Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs condition and safety of the patient. The nurse brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skill

• Assesses patient post-operative medications and develops a sound plan of care based on assessment.
• Knowledgeable of the nursing care needs of patients as they relate to medical/surgical diagnosis.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of wound prevention of care.
• Provides IV care based on medical center policies.
• Performs accu-checks.
• Recognizes and responds to emergency situations to include Code Blue (cardiac arrest); Code White (aggressive patients); Code Red (fire); Code Black (disaster).
• Appropriately assesses need for safety devices and utilizes same in accordance with policy.
• Provides patient health education to patients and families with regard to current treatment health issues and patient/family concerns in accordance with educational level of patient/family.
• Complies with documentation standards.
• Administers medications in accordance with medical center policies via Bar Code
• Medication Administration (BCMA).
• Provides guidance to para professional and non-professional staff.
• Is able to care for patients withdrawing from alcohol responding to significant symptoms and maintaining patient safety during detoxification.
• Directs care of the patient in restraints assessing for physical needs. i.e. nutrition hydration toileting and range of motion exercises.

• Applying adjusting and monitoring specialized telemetry equipment for patient care.
• Identifying and documenting cardiac rhythm and other electronic displays.
• Recognizing cardiac rhythm changes with immediate notification to the medical team.
• Documenting and recording electronic displays.
• Completing & maintaining certification in ACLS and BLS.
• Completing the annual cardiac telemetry education as assigned.
• Cover as monitor technician as assigned.
• Following all Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center policies procedures and Standard Operating Procedures governing the Acute Telemetry program.

• Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocol

Conditions of employment

NOTE: Prior to accepting a final employment offer all selected applicants will be required to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination and maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must be able to meet physical demands which include strenuous physical activity to include carrying persons and equipment walking long distances over difficult terrain running climbing working long hours in primitive or arduous conditions long periods of standing and bending and stooping.

Qualifications

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 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidates graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such 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.

• 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 bachelors degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelors 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 Bachelors 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 Masters 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 Bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Masters 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 - Masters 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.