Job Description

Summary

The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for several Registered Nurse positions for the Medical/Surgical Unit in Nursing Service.

Overview

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

07/11/2023 to 09/29/2023

Salary

$59,564 - $111,287 per year

Pay scale & grade

VN 00

Location

4 vacancies in the following location:

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

No

Travel Required

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent -

Work schedule

Full-time -

Service

Excepted

Promotion potential

00

Job family (Series)

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Trust determination process

Announcement number

OCA-CBSZ-12044408-23-BG

Control number

736617400

This job is open to

Videos

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package:

Duties include but not limited to the following:

• Assesses patient post-operative medications and develops a sound plan of care based on assessment.
• Knowledgeable of the nursing care needs of patients as they relate to medical/surgical diagnosis.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of wound prevention of care.
• Provides IV care based on medical center policies.
• Performs accu checks.
• Recognizes and responds to emergency situations to include Code Blue (cardiac arrest); Code White (aggressive patients); Code Red (fire); Code Black (disaster). - Appropriately assesses need for safety devices and utilizes same in accordance with policy.
• Provides patient health education to patients and families with regard to current treatment, health issues, and patient/family concerns in accordance with educational level of patient/family.
• Complies with documentation standards.
• Administers medications in accordance with medical center policies via Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA).
• Provides guidance to paraprofessional and non-professional staff.
• Is able to care for patients withdrawing from alcohol, responding to significant symptoms and maintaining patient safety during detoxification.
• Directs care of the patient in restraints, assessing for physical needs. i. e. nutrition, hydration, toileting and range of motion exercises.
• Responsibilities of Registered Nurses who have completed Telemetry Education and competency to care for patients admitted under Acute Telemetry include, but are not limited to: Applies, adjusts, and monitors specialized equipment ordered for patient care.
• Interprets, documents, and records cardiac rhythm and other electronic displays.
• Interprets irregular telemetry readings and notifies appropriate medical team members.
• Initiates corrective action whenever information from monitoring equipment shows adverse or changing information.
• Follows all Wilkes-Barre VAMC policy, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures governing Remote Telemetry program.

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: Dayshift, evening shift and night shifts available; rotating weekends and holidays.
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (

) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( ). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate\'s graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. * 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.
Preferred Experience: RN & Telemetry experience preferred.

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor\'s degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor\'s of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor\'s degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master\'s degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor\'s degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master\'s degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master\'s degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 4 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted).

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: . If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: .

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .

Federal government of the United States