Registered Nurse (Ambulatory Surgery)

Summary

The Bruce W Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is looking for a Registered Nurse (RN) to work in the Nursing Perioperative Service Ambulatory Surgery (AMSU). The AMSU RN is the primary resource for care - instruction - and support for Ambulatory Surgery patients. The AMSU RN is responsible for assessing and caring for patients who are to be discharged home the same day after surgery/procedure in any setting who will be receiving sedation and anesthesia care.

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:
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: Must pass a pre-employment physical examination as required by VA Handbook 5019
• This examination is administered by VA Occupational Health
• This position requires moderate lifting up to 44 lbs. - carrying objects up to 30 lbs. - frequent reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - hands and legs - use medical lifts and motor vehicles - walking & standing up to 8 hours - bending and climbing and able to hear whisper
• The incumbent must be physically - emotionally and mentally stable in order to efficiently perform the essential functions of this position without hazard to themselves or others.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering - assessment - appropriate nursing judgment - and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding - health teaching - health counseling
• provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being
• and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider
• The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient - whether an individual - family - group - or community
• The Registered Nurse demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• S/he demonstrates proficiency in decision-making and using the nursing process for complex situations that affects performance outcomes at the point of care
• The RN utilizes nursing skills and knowledge in an independent manner in areas of patient assessment and planning
• The RN collaborates with the interdisciplinary health care team - community agencies/facilities - and patient/families/significant others to ensure continuity of care across all levels of care as well as ensuring timely placement of VA patients into the appropriate level of care
• Practice is enhanced through development of collegial relationships
• S/he demonstrates collaboration by using the group process to solve problems
• The focus is on leadership in strategically planning long-term goals for the microsystem (unit - team - or workgroup) that impacts operations or resources.The RN (AMSU) works closely with the nursing staff - patients - families - and other health care professionals to ensure high-quality Veteran-centric surgical care and excellent customer service
• Must possess excellent communication and organizational skills - as well as the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic healthcare environment
• Other duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Assess learning needs to determine patient's educational needs
• Provide patient and family opportunity to ask questions
• Identify patient's post- operative needs and address it
• Assure that a responsible adult is available to drive patient home after the procedure and to assist for the first 24 hours after the procedure
• Assess for changes since preoperative evaluation
• Assess for compliance with preoperative regimen
• Prepare patient for the operating room/procedural area
• Perform reassessments per departmental policy until patient meets criteria for discharge
• Notifies the provider for any abnormalities and changes in patient status and laboratory values
• Administer medications per facility policy
• Provide discharge instructions to the patient/family/caregiver
• Initiate patient phone calls 24 hours after surgery/procedure
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement care plans and treatment modalities
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and projects and ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards
• Ensure the accurate and timely documentation of patient care by staff
• Foster a positive work environment that promotes teamwork - open communication - and professional growth and development
• Supports the mission - goals - and objectives of the facility
• Maintains and improves own nursing knowledge
• Maintains Joint Commission standards and up to date on guidelines for other regulatory agencies
• Preferred Experience: Two years Med Surg Experience - Two years of Outpatient Clinic Experience 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: 7:00 a.m
• - 5:30 p.m
• (Note: Work schedules are determined and approved by the supervisor
• The incumbent may be required to work various shifts on a permanent or temporary basis based on facility/patient care needs)
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.