Registered Nurse-Operating Room
Job Summary
The Miami VA Healthcare Systems Nursing Perioperative Service is seeking an experienced and dynamic Registered Nurse -Operating Room. Our ideal applicants are those who want to contribute to the achievement of quality care standards as well as the growth and development of a VA academic hospital program.
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval award amount (up to $200000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
The Nursing Perioperative Service is seeking a dedicated Registered Nurse with a minimum of three years of Operating Room (OR) experience. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proficiency in circulating and scrubbing for a wide range of surgical procedures ensuring adherence to aseptic technique patient safety and infection control protocols. Must hold an active Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certifications prior to appointment.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Preoperative assessment intraoperative patient monitoring safe and timely administration of medications and diligent documentation of surgical procedures and patient outcomes.
- Collaborate closely with surgeons anesthesiologists and support staff actively participate in time-outs and safety checks and provide patient and family education regarding perioperative care.
- Additional duties encompass inventory management participation in quality improvement initiatives compliance with national and VA standards and ongoing staff education and training. A strong commitment to Veteran-centric care and support for the mission of the Veterans Health Administration are essential.
- Expected to function proficiently in both the circulator and scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served.
- Maintains knowledge of current Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner.
- Protects the patient from injury caused by chemical electrical mechanical and thermal sources and extraneous objects performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site side and level and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation policy and procedures.
- Manages the patients specimens in the appropriate manner administers medications safely and correctly performs interventions to maintain the patients wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection.
- Ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely complete and accurate in the electronic health record. Responsible for knowing what reusable instruments equipment medical devices or supplies are in use in the clinical area.
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
Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): Authorized. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply for EDRP. Contact the VISN 8 Compensation Center of Excellence at for questions/assistance. Learn more.
Work Schedule: Candidates must be prepared to participate in on-call rotations demonstrate flexibility to work variable hours including evenings nights weekends and holidays and be able to function effectively in high-pressure fast-paced environments.
- 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 evaluation/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.
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.)
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 I
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019. This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health. This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. carrying objects up to 15 lbs. frequent reaching above shoulder use of fingers hands and legs use of cranes and motor vehicles walking & standing up to 8 hours bending and climbing and able to hear whisper. The incumbent must be physically emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC