Registered Nurse (Acute Care)

The Registered Nurse (Acute Care) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education self-management and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. The Registered Nurse (RN) provides competent evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate in the Nursing Acute Care setting. Leads the provision of nursing care to patients with complex care needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with the American Nursing Association (ANA Standards of Nursing Practice. The RN applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning decision making and evaluating outcomes within the immediate Inpatient Acute Care practice setting. Other responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing. The interdisciplinary needs of patients and families are met through collaboration with ancillary services to include Pharmacy Laboratory Dietary Social Work Chaplin and Radiology. Specialty Care and services are available through consultation and are utilized as needed to ensure continuity and progression of care.

• Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated on admission and continues throughout hospitalization. Interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning is conducted bi-weekly during an organized interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning conference. To ensure the needs of patients are met. Nurses are competent in the care of patients requiring the use of blood glucose monitors infusion devices including Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps enteral nutrition and barcode medication administration. Plan provide supervise and document professional nursing care utilizing the nursing process for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures.

Unit location(s)
6A- Surgical unit providing care for postoperative and medicine patients
6B- Acute medicine unit providing care to patients with a variety of oncology diseases
7A- Medical Surgical unit providing care for those preparing or have had various surgical interventions remote telemetry
7B- General Medicine unit providing care to patients with a variety of medical conditions including circulatory disorders Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and heart failure; remote telemetry

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 8 hour or 12 hour tour of duty Days/Evenings/Nights rotating shifts with rotating weekends/holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

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 masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors 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.

Preferred Experience/Education/Certifications:

• Minimum of 2 years of successful nursing practice. Medical-Surgical nursing experience within the last 2 years
• Demonstrated skills in decision-making sound judgment and critical- thinking abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to use electronic health records/computer systems in support of patient care delivery
• Nursing experience with prior chemotherapy administration/ oncology and pain management skills. Remote telemetry experience.
• Education: Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) Degree
• Certifications: American Nursing Certification (ANCC)in the following specialties: (1) ANCC for Medical Surgical Nursing (2) ANCC for Gerontological Nursing (3) ANCC for Oncology
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) 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: I Level IDelivers 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 IIDemonstrates 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 IIIDemonstrates 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 Masters degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Masters degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.Nurse IIDemonstrates 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 Masters 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 IIIExecutes 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 Masters 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 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 lifting 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.