Registered Nurse Transition To Practice

The Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP) Residency is a comprehensive program developed to support the post graduate Registered Nurse (RN) during the first year of clinical practice in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. The post graduate RN will participate in classes hands-on training and clinical preceptorship working closely with program instructors and facility nurses and throughout the program. The length of clinical orientation will vary according to assigned unit/units learning needs competence and progress of the RN. Clinical experiences and didactic sessions are scheduled during the year-long program to facilitate transition and achieve competency in key knowledge skills and responsibilities of a registered nurse. RN Transition to Practice Registered Nurses are required to attend all scheduled learning experiences (or an alternate assignment based on the facility level RNTTP Residency Program Directors direction) complete required projects and written assignments. The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program reports to the RN Transition-to-Practice Residency Program Director with second line reporting to the Chief Nurse Academic Affairs and/or Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive. The RN in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program will be enrolled into a 12-month program which will take place primarily at a facility level. The RN in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program is required to attend the 12 month program that includes completion of program surveys hands-on clinical training classroom training simulation training preceptorship mentorship shadowing experiences and individual and/or group project assignments; including an evidence based or quality project. The RN is required to attend or complete alternate assignment for all trainings/activities to successfully complete the program. At completion of the RNTTP Residency Program the RN will be assigned a specific practice area based on facility need if the RN does not already have a practice area. The RN delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The registered nurse works closely with preceptors with a goal of developing skills and judgment to utilize the nursing process in real situations. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction.

Duties include but not limited to the following:

• Provide specialized direct and indirect care to patients within a designated specialty.
• Observe interview and assess patients to identify care needs.
• Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals.
• Develop implement or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty areas.

• Plan evaluate or modify treatment programs based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients or by analyzing patient records.
• Document nursing interventions therapeutic measure administered patients reactions patient teaching and understanding.
• Administer therapeutic measures as prescribed by the physician to include but not limited to medication administration intravenous fluids blood transfusions treatments and maintains those measures taken which are ongoing in nature.
• Participate in the development updating and evaluation of standards of care and quality improvement monitoring.
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care.

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 Rotating Shifts Weekends and Holidays depending on unit assignment. (Must be available to work all shifts including weekends and holidays; Be available to work as scheduled on assigned units (Shifts may be 12 hours 8 hours or a combination of both); Work week will vary but includes weekdays weekends and holidays; Shifts vary but will include nights/days/evenings.)
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

• 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.)

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.

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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.