Carl Vinson VAMC is seeking Registered Nurses for the The Float Pool Registered Nurse. They provide direct and indirect nursing care to patients and families in the Community Living Center (CLC) neighborhoods, Acute Care Units (15B/UCC), Mental Health, Primary Care, Telehealth and Specialty Clinics. Announcement will be open until all positions are filled. Certificates sent to Nurse Manager every two weeks. 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 (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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: Long Term Care or Geriatrics experience 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 (2-6 hours); Pushing (2-6 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (5-9 hours); Standing (4-8 hours); Kneeling (1-2 hours) Repeated bending (2-4 hours); Climbing, legs only (1-2 hours), Twisting (2-4 hours), Working closely with others ["Major duties: The Float Pool Registered Nurse executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. The Registered Nurse successfully performs activities appropriate to their grade as outlined in the Nurse Qualification Standard. These standards identify the educational, experiential and competency requirements for the Registered Nurse at each grade. Types, Ages and Numbers of patients served: Age range early 40's to 90 and/or greater. - Predominantly male. - Multiple co-morbidities, which result in decreased functions and/or mobility. - Mental status changes, organic and/or psychiatric in origin. - Social problems resulting in limited/dysfunctional family or financial support. Terminal illnesses with a limited life expectancy. - Selfcare deficits resulting in an inability to preform basic activities of daily living. - Patients waiting for community placement, either independent and/or nursing home/assisted living/homelessness. - Short stay (less than 90 days) wound care, IV antibiotic therapy, rehab, respite, radiation, chemotherapy, pain management, etc. - Long stay (greater than 91 days), Palliative Care, Hospice, Long Term Care, extensive rehab, extensive wound care, etc. - Hospice Veterans at end of life who are actively dying. Acute Care patients with multiple co-morbidities. - Primary Care patients and routine visits. - Mental Health patients exhibiting signs of crisis, drug addiction and other behavioral health problems. Completes and documents nursing assessments, seeking assistance to identify priority needs. Performs and documents reassessments, recognizing changes in patient's needs and re- establishes priorities for care, seeking assistance as necessary. Develops and documents patient-centered initial plan of care and updates the plan, seeking assistance as necessary. Utilizes nursing interventions, which promote patient's functioning capabilities, recognizing patient's interests and preferences (e.g., safely administers medications, utilizes techniques for management of patient's behavior, provision of appropriate activities to enhance psycho-social and physical functioning of patient), with guidance from Nurse Manager/designee. Includes patient/family in establishing realistic, measurable goals, planning care, and patient education, seeking assistance as needed. Implements and documents nursing interventions/orders and physician orders in a timely and accurate manner, requesting assistance when needed. Initiates and documents teaching, and discharge planning based on patient's/family's identified needs, seeking assistance as needed. Evaluates and documents patient response/progress towards attainment of goals/expected outcomes with minimal guidance. Revises plan of care according to evaluation, seeking assistance as necessary. Adheres to policies and procedures in response to medical/psychiatric emergencies and initiates action, seeking assistance as necessary. Promotes the least restrictive environment that maximizes patient's functional status. Use patient care equipment in a safe and appropriate manner and assures proper maintenance seeking assistance as necessary. Assigns patient care responsibilities based upon patient needs and competencies of providers and ensures that delegated tasks are completed seeking guidance as needed. With assistance considers position descriptions, and functional statements in making assignments. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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: Various tours as needed Float Pool Registered Nurse are expected (and scheduled) to be available minimally 16 hours per pay period. This will include one weekend (defined as the period from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday) per month and 1 major holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day) per year without specific authorization from the Staffing Nurse/Manager/Designee. Staff will be hired to work a primary tour of duty (days, evenings, or nights), but may opt to be available for additional tours of duty. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
