North Central Section of the AUA, Inc.

POSITION TITLE: REGISTERED NURSE - SICU 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: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in 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. Note: ensure the 10-2850a lists all current or previous licensure for verification. While this announcement is posted at various grade levels, the Professional Standards Board will determine the grade assignment of a selected candidate. 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 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: 2 years of critical care or 2 years of surgical nursing. BLS/ACLS Requirements: Current certification in Basis Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required for all staff providing direct patient care and working in PCU. If you are selected, you will be required to have proof of certification prior to being boarded for appointment with VA or obtain such certification in order to avoid any delays in the hiring process. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a patient care setting; adequately lighted, temperature controlled, and ventilated. Office temperatures fluctuate periodically; involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as clinics, offices, meeting and training rooms or libraries; exposure to noise and dust on occasion. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. 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 Surgical ICU is a 12- bed unit proudly served by a team of Registered Nurses, a Certified Nursing Assistant, and an Intensivist team. We provide quality critical care services to veterans during their post-operative phase of surgical recovery. Admitting services include cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, general surgery, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, urological surgical services, MICU boarders, medicine boarders, cardiology boarders, and post cardiac arrest patients from any patient population in the organization. Our nursing staff is competent in multiple complex cardiac devices, mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and other critical care skills. We practice a shared governance model of decision making and support active participation and leadership in promoting and improving both the experience of the veteran and that of each of our team members. Duties include, but are not limited to: -Responsible for management of patient duties related to admissions, pre-procedure care, post-procedure care and bedside procedures. -Responsible for administration & monitoring of medications including continuous and vasoactive infusions. -Collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to manage ventilators, advanced airways, invasive assistive devices, arterial lines, central venous catheters, Continuous Renal Replacement therapy and other interventions as dictated by the patient's medical and surgical needs. -Responsible for maintaining a level of self-awareness to address personal morale and resiliency needs which may include participating in unit-based and organizational activities designed to promote teamwork and resiliency. -Actively engages in personal and interdisciplinary conflict resolution through the use of professionally supported tools and techniques. -Demonstrates professional communication and conduct. -Maintains skills in time management, priority setting, assessment, and urgent intervention. -Participates and leads in patient and caregiver education and support. -Participation in High Reliability Organization (HRO) & professional governance initiatives. -Promotes evidence-based best practices and nurse sensitive indicators (including but not limited to Falls Prevention, Hospital Associated Infection Prevention, Medication error prevention, Safe Patient Handling, and Skin Safety) Work Schedule: To be discussed with the hiring manager.\nCompressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized\nTelework schedules: Not authorized\nVirtual work schedules: Not authorized\nProbationary Period: May be Required\nFLSA: Nonexempt\nBU Status: BU\nRecruitment Incentives: NOT authorized\nRelocation Expenses: NOT authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: NOT required\nPermanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expenses: will not be paid\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized\nPay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases.\nPaid Time Off: Receive 13 to 26 days paid time off per year, including 10 paid federal holidays; 13 sick days annual with no limitation on accumulation.\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years' vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA.\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement).\nFor More Information on Benefits: https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits\nFunctional Statement RN I, II, III FS# 000000\nVHA Nursing brochure https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Careers/Nursing\nVA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards"]