North Central Section of the AUA, Inc.

The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System is recruiting Registered Nurses to work in the Operating Room at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL. Malcom Randall VAMC is a level 1a complex facility performing surgical procedures in the following specialties: Cardiac, ENT, General, Ophthalmology, GYN, Plastic, Orthopedic, Urology, Robotic, Thoracic, Vascular & Endovascular. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be considered for highly qualified candidates. 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: Two years recent OR experience as an RN preferred within the last three years Ability to scrub and circulate BLS Certification by the AHA at the start of employment at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System required Bachelors in Nursing preferred CNOR preferred Ability to work with multidisciplinary groups effectively Ability to make critical decisions in stressful environments 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires long periods of continued standing (1-3 hours), frequent moving and lifting of patients and equipment, stooping, sitting, bending; pulling and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. ["The Operating Room Registered Nurse practices as a registered nurse and must demonstrate and maintain competencies required for all processes, procedures, and equipment used in the Operating Room Suite. The RN must have the technical and operational expertise and clinical skills to function as a circulating nurse in all the above services. They must demonstrate a variety of specialized diagnostic and treatment procedures and will be accountable for promoting patient safety, continuity of care and the general well-being of the patient. The Operating Room Registered Nurse collaborates with physicians and ancillary services to provide the highest level of care; analyzes and upgrades patient care through quality improvement activities. The Operating Room Registered Nurse must strive to maintain all clinical competencies through continuous study, in-services, and participation in continuing education units. Based on level of education and experience, the incumbent may be assigned preceptor/mentor responsibilities. The clinical responsibilities for registered nurses in the Operating Room Suite include but are not limited to the following: The Perioperative nurse is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from nursing care provided during the perioperative experience. A perioperative registered nurse functioning in the circulating role must plan and direct the nursing care of every patient undergoing surgical and/or other invasive procedures, thus requiring a 1:1 perioperative nurse patient ratio. The Circulating nurse is responsible for completing all Operative Documentation, i.e. Vista intraoperative record, Surgical Time Out and safety checks. They ensure proper documentation and accountability of surgical specimens. The Operating Room nurse must demonstrate expertise, in the circulating nurse capacity, in a minimum of one surgical specialty, and demonstrate minimal competency in all other surgical specialties performed at the NF/SG VA Medical Center by the following: Demonstrates competency in pre-op assessment of the surgical patient, which includes actively acting as the patient's advocate when it comes to assessing the patient's understanding of surgical consent and procedures they are about to undergo. Assesses the patient has followed all pre-operative instructions, such as NPO status, halting of anticoagulation medication, etc. Ensures all instruments, supplies, and equipment are present and functional before the surgical procedure; ensuring sterility of all surgical instruments. Ensures count of surgical instruments and specialty equipment occurs prior to and following the procedure to ensure all instruments are accounted for prior to the patient leaving the Operating Room Suite. Performs proper surgical Time Out prior to incision for all procedures; and when pertinent, performs fire safety time out prior to start of procedure. Maintains cleanliness and order in the Operating Room Suite; protecting the sterile field by monitoring for breaches in sterile technique; limiting traffic in the Operating Room Suite and around the surgical field. Assists the Surgeons during procedures and coordinates with Surgical Technicians; ensuring post-operative pre-cleaning of instruments and safe transport to Sterile Processing. Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm; on-call coverage (nights and weekends) required (30 minute arrival response required)\nTelework: not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: A recruitment/relocation incentive may be considered for highly qualified candidates\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]