This is an announcement for positions on all Intensive Care Units of the Kansas City VA Medical Center. Positions are currently available. Referrals will be made on the 1st and 15th of each month. RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE OF $8,000 to $10,000 MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION (PCS)/RELOCATION WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED. APPRAISED VALUE OFFER (AVO) IS NOT AUTHORIZED. 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: BSN preferred. 2-3 years of critical care experience 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 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 patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital and is an essential function of the position. Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor. Self-motivated in the pursuit of meeting professional work standards. Preferred additional certification in specific microsystem of expertise. ["Applicants will be considered for each department The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) provides specialized acute care patient 24 hours a day for the critically ill adult patients who have had surgical, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures including, but not limited to: - General Surgery: o Alimentary tract o Abdomen and its contents o Breast, skin, and soft tissue o Endocrine system, including thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreas o Surgical oncology o Complete care of critically ill patients with underlying surgical conditions o Care of wounds secondary to diabetes, neuropathy, and pressure - Ophthalmology - Oral Surgery - Otolaryngology Surgery - Orthopedic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Urological Surgery - Vascular/Thoracic Surgery The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) provides specialized acute care for the critically ill adult patient 24 hours a day. The MICU also serves as the Coronary Care Unit. Most frequent medical diagnoses treated include: Acute MI, CHF, dysrhythmia, DKA, COPD, septic shock, and GI bleed. Established for adult and geriatric patients requiring extraordinary care on a concentrated and continuous basis. These units are staffed with specially educated personnel and are equipped with highly specialized equipment to use in rendering care to the critically ill patient. Monitoring provided includes the use of hemodynamic monitoring equipment such as the central venous catheter, Pulmonary Artery Catheter, arterial line, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, electrocardiogram and pulse oximetry. Ability to provide specialized acute care including the following but are not limited to: Vasoactive or antiarrhythmic drug administration, Cardio version, Fluid volume resuscitation CRRT Ventilation support Temporary external as well as internal pacemaker insertion and management IABP Severe alcohol withdrawal Implementation of hypothermia protocol Insulin infusion Moderate Sedation Work Schedule: Various - includes day shift and night shift Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
