Registered Nurse Medical/Surgical RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE and EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION 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.
• 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.

EDUCATION: Graduate from a professional school of nursing accredited by one of the following at the point of graduation is required:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(CCNE)
OR
a graduate of a foreign school of professional nursing.

• Note: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013; ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998, an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly
• ACEN or CCNE Accreditation - Candidates meeting the basic education requirement of graduation from an ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program must be considered before consideration of a deviation to the basic accreditation requirement
• Nursing Bridge Program (must be appropriately accredited): A masters-level nursing accelerated nursing education program: The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. A copy of the MSN transcript must be provided to VA. Bridge programs that confer a master's degree also fully meet the education requirement, even though a Bachelor's Degree is not awarded.
• Foreign Nursing Education
• Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who, possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration, will meet the education requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher than the associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency accepted by VA such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)

Preferred Experience: Acute Care

Grade Determinations:
The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to aa Nurse 1, Level 1; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and 2 yeas of professional nursing practice, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 2; OR a BSN with 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related filed with a Bachelors degree in nursing with no professional nursing experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in nursing with 1 year of nursing experience equivalent to a Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3. OR Doctorate degree in nursing and no professional nursing experience OR a Doctorate degree in a related field with a MSN or BSN and no professional experience.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR Master's degree in a related field with a BSN 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 Doctorate degree in Nursing and 1 year of specialized care which is equivalent to a Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR Doctorate degree in a related field with a MSN or BSN and 1 Year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to a Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

• Nurse IV - Master's degree in nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Master's degree in a related field and BSN with 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctorate degree in Nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctorate degree in a related field and 3 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV.
• Nurse V - Master's degree in nursing and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR Master's degree in a related field and BSN with 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctorate degree in Nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctorate degree in a related field and 4 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

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.

Physical Requirements: The position requires the incumbent to have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The incumbent must be mature, flexible, and sensible, capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. This position requires limited periods of standing, stooping, bending, pulling, pushing, walking, and be able to lift up to 35 pounds. Transferring patients and objects may be required. This position also requires sitting for long periods typing on computer keyboard, looking at computer monitor, and using the telephone. The incumbent maybe exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials requiring the incumbent to don protective clothing and equipment in isolation situations or during invasive patient procedures. The incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative or aggressive related to neurologic or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must meet the required screening/testing and be medically cleared by Employee Occupational Health as a condition of employment.

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.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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.