Registered Nurse Surgical Care Float Pool
Pittsburgh, PA - USA
Job Summary
This is a Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN position located at University Drive Campus in Pittsburgh PA. RNs rotate through the Same Day Procedure/Ambulatory Surgery Unit Surgical Clinics Interdisciplinary Medical Preoperative Assessment Consultation Treatment (IMPACT) Clinic and Interventional Radiology (IR). RN must possess a broad knowledge base to include but not limited to Vascular Wound Podiatry Ortho Plastics Urology General Surgery ENT Neurosurgery and IR patients.
The Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN is responsible for providing competent evidence-based care to assigned patients.
Surgical Clinics:
- Performs surgical clinic documentation in CPRS.
- Reviews patient charts to verify appropriate testing has been completed prior to clinic visit.
- Provides pre and post clinic visit teaching including peri-operative education as appropriate.
- Obtains various specimen collections ensuring proper specimen labeling.
- Maintains understanding of correct site protocol and participates in the time-out process.
- Performs correct handling of non-critical semi-critical and critical RMD in various clinics. Maintains current Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) competencies for all pieces of RMD handled.
- Sets up clinic rooms as needed for clinic procedures aware of steps taken to ensure a sterile field.
- Assists in staple/sutures/cast removal dressing changes and other various clinic procedures.
- Performs post spine clinic visit call to ensure patients are following the plan of care.
- Performs removal of acupuncture needles.
- Performs Battlefield acupuncture.
- Facilitates Virtual Pre-op Ortho Joint Education class.
- Performs cerumen irrigation in the RN Cerumen Irrigation Clinic.
- Maintains knowledge of the medical supplies required to efficiently and effectively run clinics.
- Maintains cleanly and appropriate par level of medical supplies in each clinic area ensuring no outdated supplies are present.
- Provides preoperative/procedural care including the starting of intravenous fluids venipuncture assisting with pre-anesthesia treatment options (i.e. peripheral nerve blocks spinal anesthesia) assuring all lab work and other pre-operative/procedural testing is completed and communicated to team members confirms surgical sites are prepared and marked and administers medications as ordered.
- Monitors postoperative patients level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation. Closely observes for side effects of anesthesia medications.
- Effectively communicates with all members of the anesthesia and procedural/surgical team.
- Provides clear and concise preoperative teaching and prepares and reviews discharge instructions with Veterans and families.
- Performs timely complete and accurate documentation in CPRS.
- Completes patient evaluations and assessments as face-to-face or telephone evaluations.
- Obtains specimens ensuring proper labeling of specimens.
- Performs comprehensive Veteran education related to pre-op instructions including but not limited to medication instructions chlorhexidine skin treatment and prevention of surgical site infection.
- Performs timely complete and accurate documentation in CPRS.
- Utilizes all aspects of the electronic health record including CPRS and the Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to perform accurate medication reconciliations.
- Performs and documents pre-procedure check-in vital signs IV insertion pre-procedure medication administration patient education and verification of orders.
- Monitors postprocedural patients level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation. Closely observes for signs of side effects of procedure medications.
- Effectively communicates with all members of the procedural team.
- Monitors patients and VS/cardiac rhythm for MRI pacer/defibrillator procedures.
- Completes discharge instructions and performs clear and concise discharge education with Veterans and families.
- Performs timely complete and accurate documentation in CPRS.
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: Monday - Friday.000
Compressed/Flexible: Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
- 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.
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: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
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