Registered Nurse - Critical Care SICU

Job Title

Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN)

Job Description

The Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, as appropriate to the setting. The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. Provides direct care for acutely/critically ill patients who are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems, regardless of the setting for nursing care. Provides high intensity care and vigilance, while refining assessment skills and blending in data obtained from a variety of invasive/noninvasive monitoring technology. Evaluates practice in an ongoing process, based on best evidence. Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team. Partners with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes. Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Shares educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers. Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture. This nurse has experience with the situations in which they are ultimately expected to perform, integrating theoretical concepts, strong critical thinking skills, and exhibits a robust technically skilled practice. Nurses in the SICU provide 24-hour care for post-operative surgical veterans. Their responsibilities include monitoring hemodynamics, interpreting and treating dysrhythmias based on ACLS guidelines, managing medical emergencies, and administering complex medications such as vasopressors. They manage central lines, including Triple lumen catheters and PICC lines. Nurses administer blood products, provide complex wound care, assist with chest tube insertions, and manage CSF drainage systems. They care for tracheostomies and laryngectomies and support daily living activities. SICU nurses also prone patients with respiratory complications and provide CRRT therapy. They lead evidence-based projects to improve practices and patient-centered care, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Medications administered include IV antibiotics, titrated IV medications, PCA, epidurals, and nutrition via NGT and G-Tubes. Nurses oversee care provided by nursing assistants, health technicians, and student nurses.

Benefits

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: Part Time (48 hour per pay period commitment) 12 hour rotational; 7:30a-8pm or 7:30pm-8am

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs