Registered Nurse - Multi Specialty OCA

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 master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Cath/ Lab RN: 3-5 years recent Cardiac Cath /PCI experience, 2-3 yrs critical care experience .Required: BLS/ACLS
• Community Living Center/Hospice: Long term care experience
• Emergency Room RN 1-2 years of acute care/ER experience Required: BLS and ACLS
• Float Nurse: Experience in ER, Tele, MedSurg
• Gastro RN: 2-3 years experience in Acute care, moderate sedation, and GI
• Home Base Primary Care RN: 2-3 years of experience in acute care or Home base primary Care experience
• Infusion RN: BSN and more than 3 years oncology experience
• Mental Health RN: 2 years or more in Mental Health and Substance Abuse experience

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. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position may require potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. 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 needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The RN must be a mature, flexible, sensible, individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to handle multiple inputs and tasks simultaneously, able to shift priorities based on clinic or patient needs, and readily able to accommodate to change or new situations and realities as doable challenges. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. The incumbent must be poised and articulate in communicating with people of varied educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds. Willing to work cooperatively as a member of a team in all assignments. Makes caring for the veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrates customer service principles in all aspects of work. Self-motivated in the pursuit of meeting professional work standards. Basic Life Support (BLS) required for RNs in direct patient care positions. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) required in specific specialty areas.