Outpatient Registered Nurse - Surgical Clinics

Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN)

The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) in the Surgery Clinic, Nursing, Perioperative Department at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Administration Medical Center exemplifies leadership, clinical expertise, and innovation in managing complex outpatient care. This RN is responsible and accountable for all aspects of the nursing process related to delivering and supervising direct patient care. Responsibilities include coordinating care with a focus on patient education, self-management, and enhancing patient satisfaction across the continuum of care. The nurse administers medications and performs procedures in accordance with established policies and protocols, while promoting improved care outcomes through collaboration with interdisciplinary team members. Key duties include actively participating in unit- or program-level quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs. The Outpatient Staff RN provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients in the outpatient setting and oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate. This role ensures smooth patient transitions by coordinating care, facilitating patient and family education, supporting post-discharge self-management, and improving factors that contribute to patient satisfaction. The RN assists in directing nursing education, orientation, competency assessments, and quality improvement initiatives, including outcomes utilization consultation. Demonstrating leadership, the nurse partners with colleagues to advance holistic outpatient care, continually evaluating practices based on current best evidence. Supporting peers through knowledge sharing, the nurse promotes safe, high-quality outpatient nursing care and contributes educational insights and experiences. The RN critically evaluates outpatient clinical practices to maintain evidence-based care and engages in initiatives that foster a culture of evidence-based practice. The Outpatient Staff RN supports Veterans, their families, and caregivers in accessing appropriate services tailored to their complex healthcare needs, including acute, chronic, multiple, complex, catastrophic, or life-threatening conditions; combat stress; residual effects of traumatic brain injury; community adjustment; addictions; and related concerns. This role involves coordinating care across multiple providers and service sites to ensure seamless integration within Veterans Affairs (VA) and community programs, maintaining continuity of care for patients. The RN addresses psychosocial, nursing, and medical needs of patients and their families or caregivers through active participation in the interdisciplinary care team, facilitating and expediting the care process from diagnosis through treatment. Responsibilities include reviewing and managing laboratory and radiology results, providing timely information to providers, and utilizing databases for population management to monitor patient care throughout all care episodes. The nurse assesses care delivery and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate services. Advocating for comprehensive care, the RN collaborates with providers to develop and implement patient and family educational plans tailored to individual needs. The nurse also contributes to the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and guidelines. Demonstrating leadership and performance that enhance care quality, the RN provides formal and informal constructive feedback to peers to support continuous improvement. The nurse evaluates outcomes of evidence-based practices and implements changes for individuals, groups, and populations. The RN is responsible for documenting broad and complex outcomes at the program or service level, ensuring these can be demonstrated across organizational levels within the facility.