Summary

The Emergency Department Registered Nurse will manage the care of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with a wide range of problems - from the non-urgent complaint - to the life threatening emergent crisis. The Registered Nurse will determine the patient's immediate needs - prioritize care - organize and plan the patient's treatment from admission to disposition.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12862977
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: 1 year in Emergency Room and/or Critical Care Physical Requirements: The Registered Nurse must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting and turning
• It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers
• Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients
• The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care
• The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients.

Duties

• The Emergency Department Registered Nurse will manage the care of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with a wide range of problems - from the non-urgent complaint - to the life threatening emergent crisis
• Working collaboratively with other nursing staff - physicians - and healthcare providers - the Emergency Department Registered Nurse will determine the patients immediate needs - prioritize care - organize and plan the patient's treatment from admission to disposition
• The Registered Nurse demonstrates the ability to work effectively as a team member to provide quality patient care and outcomes
• Strong communication - critical thinking - and clinical skills are essential
• The Registered Nurse will coordinate and facilitate care to restore optimal patient health - minimizing complications - to achieve a positive patient outcome within a dynamic and often hectic emergency room environment
• The Emergency Department nurse will use the nursing process to assess - plan - implement - and evaluate patients treated in the Emergency Department
• They will also assist in ongoing continuity of care with the team of caregivers within the VA System and support a culture of learning and growth through education - participation in unit or hospital committees - quality improvement projects - membership in professional organizations and other ongoing professional development
• The Emergency Department Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing care
• They assess the patient by collecting pertinent data or information - including the triage of patients based on the five-level triage system to prioritize patients that require more immediate care
• The Registered Nurse will use the assessment data to determine diagnoses - problems - or other concerns
• They will identify expected outcomes to develop a collaborative and individualized plan for each patient
• The Emergency Department Registered Nurse will implement that plan - including care coordination - health teaching - and health promotion
• They evaluate the progress toward achieving the expected goal and outcomes and adjusts the plan as necessary
• MAJOR DUTIES: Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to - the following: Complete assessment on assigned patients Assess physical - psychological - and social dimensions Apply knowledge of illness - injuries - diseases - and use available resources Complete a thorough review of systems on patients whose acuity require a more extensive assessment Re-Assess patient as needed to determine any change in condition Document vital signs - assessment - and interventions in EHR - per policy Demonstrate ability to plan - coordinate - and prioritize workflow and patient load to optimize patient outcomes Provide age - gender - and cultural-appropriate care Delegate nursing care of patient - as appropriate - utilizing the skills of unlicensed personnel to maximize benefit to patient and evaluate care provided by said personnel Implement clinical and technical aspects of care in accordance with the established policies - procedures - standards - and scope of practice
• This may include - but not limited to: Cardiac monitoring Hemodynamic monitoring Administration of medications - including high risk medications Management of various types of shock Trauma management Psychological emergencies Intervene with the proper technique - procedure - and safety precautions to meet individual needs of patient Develop and/or utilize knowledge of triage using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) system Participate in clinical supervision of nursing students - PBNRs - Valor - and new hires through role modeling and communication objectives and expected competencies of orientee's and students 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: Rotating (Including: Nights - Weekends - and Holidays) Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized