North Central Section of the AUA, Inc.

These Registered Nurse positions are located in the Intensive Care Unit at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC. 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. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR 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. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: Previous ICU experience preferred. 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 practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/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: Heavy lifting (up to 50 pounds); heavy carrying (up to 50 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The ICU nurse is responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of patients with highly unstable conditions by assessing the patient's condition, responding to emergencies and intervening with immediate attention. The incumbent will provide emotional support to critically ill patients and their families and consistently demonstrate outstanding empathy and both verbal and written communication skills. She/he will manage various life-support systems including ventilation and heart monitoring and will be responsible for identifying all changes in the patient's condition and reacting promptly and accordingly.The incumbent must demonstrate advanced knowledge and competencies in critical care nursing such as Hemodynamic monitoring, early recognition of Cardiac Lethal Dysrhythmias and effective treatment of life-threatening cardiac complications. She/he must be able to interpret, integrate and respond to a wide array of clinical information and assess and monitor the patient closely in order to identify subtle changes in condition which may warrant immediate intervention. She/he must maintain an active Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification.The incumbent must have demonstrated functional expertise with: Arrythmia interpretation, Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring, Cardioversion, Cardiac resuscitation, Pacemakers (external and transvenous), Thrombolysis, Volume expanders, Chest tube insertion, mechanical ventilation, Post-Anesthesia care, IV pain management, overdose protocols, Acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) protocols, Immediate post-operative care of vascular patients, abdominal surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and pacemaker surgery, Conscious sedation, IV vasoactive and inotropic medication, treatment of Gastroenterology and Renal patients, Pulmonary Edema, Severe respiratory patients with CO2 monitoring, Epidural Catheters, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) bundles: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP)/Central Venous Line (CVL), etc.The patients admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) may be medically and surgically unstable, requiring constant cardiac and respiratory monitoring and continual adjustment of treatments, such as titration and dosing of multiple intravenous medications and changes in ventilatory support. The critical nature of the patients' conditions mandates that the incumbent working in the ICU/PCU be prepared for confrontation with life-threatening situations, end-of-life issues and ethical dilemmas related to withholding, withdrawing, or medical futile care. She/he must follow all established ICU/PCU protocols, collaboratively work with all members of the interdisciplinary team, and provide Patient Health Education (PHE) to patients and families with regard to current treatment, health issues, and patient/family concerns in accordance with educational level of patient/family. Work Schedule: 2 positions available\nsix tours of 8:00 am-8:00 pm and one tour 7:45 am-4:15 pm in a two week pay period\nsix tours of 8:00 pm-8:00 am and one tour of midnight - 8:00 am in a two week pay period\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]