Job Description

Summary

The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse to join the Specialty Clinic within Nursing Services located in Marion - IL. The Clinic Registered Nurse (RN) provides safe - compassionate - evidence-based nursing care to Veterans in an outpatient clinical setting.

Qualifications

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
Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13102895
Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
Preferred Experience: Experience in an outpatient setting within the last five (5) years - experience in specialized areas (podiatry - urology - wound - orthopedics - or general surgery) - Minimum of three (3) years of nursing experience and BSN preferred
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

The RN serves as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team and is responsible for assessment - care coordination - patient education - clinical triage - and follow-up care within the scope of practice - applicable policies - and professional standards
The RN performs comprehensive nursing assessments - including psychosocial - functional and health-risk assessments
The RN provides direct nursing care - including medication administration - treatments - wound care - injections - specimen collection - patient monitoring - and other clinic-based procedures
The RN recognizes changes in patient condition and initiates appropriate interventions - escalation - emergency response - and provider notification
The RN uses clinical judgement to prioritize care and manage multiple patients and competing demands
The RN responds to patient calls - secure messages - walk-ins - and other clinical inquiries
The RN obtains and documents pertinent information - determines urgency of concern - provides nursing advice within scope and coordinates timely follow-up
The RN coordinates care among providers - services - facilities - caregivers and community resources
The RN tracks referrals - diagnostic testing - consultations - hospitalizations - and follow-up appointments
The RN communicates effectively with patients - families - caregivers - providers - and interdisciplinary team members - maintains confidentiality and compiles with applicable privacy - security - and information-management requirements
The RN participates in quality improvement - patient safety - infection prevention - risk management - and performance measurement activities
This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments - as this is a 24/7 hospital
The incumbent may be required to rotate tours and duties during low/high census or complete administrative tasks established by the immediate supervisor
PLEASE NOTE: These positions require Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
If selected - Applicants will provide proof of current certifications prior to employment
Only BLS certification which included Automated External Defibrillator (AED) obtained from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or the Military Treatment Training Network (MTN) will be accepted
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m
to 4:30 p.m. - excluding Federal holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.