Registered Nurse - Emergency Department - 72/80 Schedule Eligible

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 Proficiency. In 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.
• Education Accreditation Requirement. Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing accredited by one of the following accrediting organizations at the time the program was completed: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• All Nurses must possess and maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted license as a Nurse to practice in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
  • Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. 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 Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) on a temporary appointment under the authority of 38
    U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).

Nursing Qualifications

• 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 1 year of nursing practice/experience equivalent to Nurse 1 Level 1; OR a Bachelor's in nursing with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and 2 years of nursing practice/experience, 1 of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Bachelor's degree in nursing with 1 years of nursing practice/experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a bachelor's degree in nursing with no professional nursing experience.
• Nurse II - A Bachelor's degree in nursing with 2 years of nursing practice/experience, 1 of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in nursing and 1 years of nursing practice/experience equivalent to a Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a bachelor's degree in nursing with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a master's or bachelor's degree in nursing with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing and 2 years of nursing practice/experience, 1 of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets the dimension requirements of Nurse III; OR a master's degree in a related field with a bachelor's degree in nursing with 2 years of specialized nursing experience, 1 of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing with 1 year of specialized nursing experience which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimensions requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctorate degree in a related field with a master's or bachelor's degree in nursing with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirement for Nurse III.
  • Dimension Requirement for Nurse III. Nurses at Nurse III must meet ALL the following dimension requirements to qualify for Nurse III.
  • Practice. Demonstrates expertise in professional practice using the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation) with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
  • Veteran/Patient Driven Care. Leads initiatives to improve Veteran/patient experience. Satisfaction and/or safety beyond the immediate practice setting.
  • Leadership. Communicates and collaborates as an effective leader of the interprofessional team, at the expert level, with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
  • Professional Development. Enhances knowledge base and practice evaluation, at the expert level, with improved outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
  • Evidence Based Practice/Research. Leads the identification and integration of evidence-based practice/research with clinical expertise to improve quality of care and resource utilization at the expert level with improved outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior ED nurse experience
• ACLS
• BLS
• TNCC

Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. ICVAHCS is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with visits to the Emergency Department and admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires up to the entire shift of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Incumbent is required to lift up to 45 pounds, as transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements 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-vehicle.

This position requires heavy lifting (45 lbs and over), Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over), Strait pulling (1 hour), Pulling hand over hand (2 hours), Pushing (2 Hours) reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both arms/hands required or the equivalent required, walking 8-12 hours, standing 8-12 hours, crawling 0.5 hours, kneeling 1 hour, repeated bending (4 hours), climbing, legs only (0.5 hours), both legs required or the equivalent required, twisting (2 hours), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, stooping, stretching (2 hours), near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual requirement (read medication label and equipment manuals), both eyes required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted) adequate to hear medical alarms/whispered voice, ability to perform Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior, patient lifting (mechanical assistance available), sitting (8-12 hours), ability to perform Basic Life Support, emotional and mental stability. Environmental factors include: outside and inside, dust, electrical energy, working around machinery with moving parts, working with hands in water, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular work hours and repetitive use of hand hygiene.