Emergency Room Registered Nurse

Summary The Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at VA San Diego Health Care Systems executes position responsibilities that demonstrates leadership - in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. Qualifications 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 Preferred Experience: BSN - 2 years of recent ED RN experience Duties VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The ED RN assumes the following major duties and responsibilities: Leads and organizes delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice - including access to care and discharge planning Uses advance clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning - decision making - and evaluating outcomes Functions as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assignment of roles and responsibilities Systematically evaluates current practice and formulates outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise Guides - develops - and supports staff from a leadership perspective Uses professional standards of care - scientific evidence - and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities Participates in orientation - unit‑based in‑services - and mandatory education activities in a self‑directed manner Evaluates unit performance as measured against The Joint Commission standards and takes action to correct deficits to ensure compliance as part of continued readiness Supports and encourages others to read and correctly interpret medical center and service‑level policies and procedures Assumes leadership role in identifying policies - procedures - standards - guidelines - and protocols requiring review or revision Applies and directs others to apply infection control measures appropriately in delivering care Identifies and analyzes systems problems which effect/impede patient care and initiates their resolution Provides leadership in coordinating patient care and collaborating with other disciplines/departments to achieve patient‑care outcome Performs procedures or seeks help when needed - such as phlebotomy - IV insertion - 12‑lead ECG - blood transfusions - urinary catheter insertion and care Administers medications as ordered by physicians Performs Point of Care laboratory testing - including glucometer - ISTAT - and urine hCG Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care Reports equipment in need of repair Takes and records vital signs Recognizes subtle abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately Makes assignments and directs activities of other unit staff - (RNs - LVNs/LPNs - students - MSAs - other team members) Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice and seeks assistance as needed Completes initial assessment of patient condition - screenings and response to treatment and initiates follow‑up as needed Triages patients using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and initiates established protocols Provides leadership in establishing goals - evaluating the plan of care - and in discharge planning Initiates referrals to other disciplines and/or services as appropriate Updates plan of care with assistance as needed Assesses patient's learning needs - learning preference - and readiness to learn Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs - instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning Documents the nursing process Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient responses Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) or currently used electronic medical record - Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) - Bed Management System (BMS) - and the Emergency Department Integrated Software (EDIS) per policy Assigns patient care responsibilities based upon triage level - patient care needs - and competencies of staff Functions as charge nurse/team leader in providing direction to staff in meeting patient care needs Follows‑up to ensure that assigned delegated tasks are completed by team members Responds to emergencies as a member of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) and Code Blue Team Utilizes all available safe patient handling equipment Transports patients via wheelchair - gurney - and electric emergency vehicle Performs other Duties as assigned 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: Full Time - to be determined during interview Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position #J-18808-Ljbffr