RN - ER

Salem VA Medical Center

At the VA Salem Medical Center, our health care teams are deeply experienced and guided by the needs of Veterans, their families and their caregivers. Our facility provides routine care management to urgent care for our veterans. Since 1934 the VAMC in Salem has been improving the health and wellness of the men and women who have so proudly served our country from every branch in the United States military. Our health care services have been provided to more than 112,500 veterans living in a 26-county area of southwestern Virginia. 1970 Roanoke Blvd, Salem, VA 24153.

The Salem VA Medical Center provides comprehensive health care, which includes addiction and substance abuse care, blind and low vision rehabilitation, COVID-19 vaccines, cardiology, caregiver support, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, homeless Veteran care, infectious disease, LGBTQ+ Veteran care, mental health care, nephrology, neurology, ophthalmology, optometry, otolaryngology, palliative and hospice care, patient advocates, pharmacy, podiatry, primary care, pulmonary medicine, radiology, rehabilitation and extended care, returning service member care, rheumatology, sleep medicine, social work, spinal cord injury and disorders, suicide prevention, urgent care, urology, vocational rehabilitation and employment programs, whole health and women Veteran care.

Requirements

(Duties include but are not limited to)

• Have an understanding of triage to make quick and accurate assessments about incoming Emergency Department (ED) patients, including both physical, infectious, and mental health conditions.
• Proficient with Emergency Severity Index
• Obtains patient history and pertinent family history.
• Check for any allergies and current medications
• Obtain height, weight, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure
• Establish, monitor and recognize cardiac rhythms
• Takes blood samples, cleaning and bandaging wounds, administers medications and Intra-venous (IV) therapies
• Possesses knowledge of Infection Control practices when triaging and/or caring for patients presenting with potential diagnosis of Infectious Diseases (i.e. COVID Positive cases).
• Knowledgeable of utilizing appropriate Infection Control practices (i.e. donning and doffing practices) as needed.
• Documents plan of care and care given in patient's medical record.
• Verifies transcription of physician's orders. May accept a verbal order if in compliance with the facility policy.
• Carries out prescribed Physician's orders and documents inpatient medical record.
• Communicates pertinent patient data to the Charge Nurse and/or Physician as appropriate.
• Re-assesses patient's condition and revises plans-of-care based on problems that the Nurse Identifies.
• Possesses knowledge of actions and usual dosages of the most commonly used emergency drugs and their location on the crash cart.
• Assesses and documents patient responses to medications that have been administered.
• Reorganizes and initiates the appropriate measures in emergencies/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished.
• Instructs patients and their families regarding prescribed medications/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished.
• Assesses patient/family knowledge level, implements a plan of instructions, and records the patient's family's demonstrated level of understanding.
• Operates defibrillator, electrocardiogram (EKG) machines and cardiac monitors, and other technical emergency equipment.
• Cares for patients with Swan-Gans catheters, arterial lines, and mechanical ventilators.
• Participates in discharge planning.
• Can initiate life-saving measures in the absence of Physicians.
• Assures the content and correctness of a prepared report and signs the document to validate its content.
• Maintains a neat personal appearance and maintains professional decorum.
• Consistently applies the VA's customer service standards, always demonstrating helpful, courteous, and respectful conduct.
• Respects patient's rights, including but not limited to visual and auditory privacy.
• Intake and output of fluids assessed every shift, and more frequently if indicated by specific standard nursing drug care
• Reviews all laboratory data, and electronic medical records.
• Can titrate medications.
• Performs urinary catheter care by using soap and water cleaning technique every 12 hours, or as required.
• Ensures that medication orders from the previous shift have been noted and either carried out or transcribed onto the medical records.
• Maintains proper supplies of medical equipment, and Point of Care Testing.
• Transports/moves patients as needed to units.

Qualifications

• Candidates must possess a BA in Nursing and eligibility under the Superior Academic Achievement provision -OR- Possess of a BA in Nursing and at least one full year of professional nursing experience-OR- Possess a diploma or associate degree in professional nursing
• Must possess a current, valid, unrestricted nursing license in a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a Territory of the United States.
• Must have a minimum of one year experience in an emergency department environment during the last 36 months
• Current BLS and ACLS as approved by the AHA is mandatory for all specialties.
• Evidence of current immunizations is required

13-week contracts with extensions. KurzSolutions is committed to improving health outcomes by providing well-managed companies with the top healthcare talent in the market.