Nurse Practitioner

Job Title

Registered Nurse I/Level 2 and Registered Nurse I/Level 3

Duties

The Registered Nurse I/Level 2 is an advanced beginner nurse who can demonstrate marginally acceptable performance, have coped with enough real situations to note the recurring meaningful situational components that are termed 'aspects' of the situation. Aspects require prior experience in actual situations for recognition (Benner). In conjunction with the staff surgeon, prioritize, collaborate, and engage in facility performance measures in an effort to provide excellent care delivery processes in an efficient and safe manner. Collaborates with Attending Surgeons to review and act on routine consults. Acquires knowledge and applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve patient care. Acquires knowledge and strives to apply leadership by collaborating with others in process improvement activities. Supports and enhances patient self-determination. Utilizes and applies available resource for patient and staff in addressing ethical issues. Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, appropriately reports issues to management. Acquires knowledge and skills to continue to gain expertise in area of practice. Participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge, skills and enhance role performance. Evaluates practice of self using professional standards. Uses group process to identify, analyze and resolve care problems. Seeks out and participates in quality improvement activities that result in improved outcomes. Reviews and applies research to validate and or change self practice to improve patient outcomes.

The Registered Nurse I/Level 3 is a competent nurse; competence develops when the nurse begins to see his or her actions in terms of long-range goals or plans of which he or she is consciously aware. The plan dictates which attributes and aspect of the current and contemplated future situation are to be considered most important and those which can be ignored. A plan establishes a perspective, and the plan is based on considerable conscious, abstract, analytic contemplation of the problem. The competent nurse lacks the speed and flexibility of the proficient nurse but does have a feeling of mastery and the ability to cope with and manage the many contingencies of clinical nursing. The conscious, deliberate planning that is characteristic of this skill level helps achieve efficiency and organization (Benner). In conjunction with the staff surgeon, prioritizes, collaborates and engages in facility performance measures in an effort to provide excellent care delivery processes in an efficient and safe manner. Assumes responsibility for review of routine consults and communicates with Attending Surgeon and requesting providers regarding additional care needs. Applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve patient care. Develops leadership by involving others in process improvement activities. Supports and enhances patient self-determination. Provides resources for patient and staff in addressing ethical issues. Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, taking appropriate action. Acquires knowledge and skills to expand expertise in area of practice. Participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge, skills and enhance role performance. Evaluates practice of self and others using professional standards. Uses group process to identify, analyze and resolve care problems.

Pay and Benefits

Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards. 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory. Work schedule is 7:30am - 4:00pm. Not Available for Telework, Virtual, Relocation/Recruitment Incentives, or Permanent Change of Station (PCS).