Registered Nurse - Inpatient Care (8D)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

The Buffalo VA Medical Center is seeking a qualified full-time Registered Nurse (Nights) for the Acute Care Department (Inpatient - 8D). The Acute Care Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients and families in a nursing care unit/area. The incumbent is accountable for adhering to established policies, standards of care and standards of practice. The staff nurse demonstrates leadership when providing and improving patient care. The incumbent reports directly to the Nurse Manager of the patient care unit/area and serves as a role model when functioning as team leader or charge nurse under the supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee. The incumbent will be responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assume responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs. Duties include but are not limited to: Diagnose and treat a patient's unique responses to diagnosed health problems perform health assessments to identify new symptoms of possibly undiagnosed conditions or complications Teach and counsel patients about maintenance of health and prevention of illness or complications Execute medical regimens as prescribed by licensed physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and podiatrists, and contribute as members of an interdisciplinary health care team and as consultants on health-related committees to plan and implement the health care needs of consumers. Assist, through in-depth assessment, a patient's ability to adapt to new situations and circumstances created by changes in health status. Teach and counsel on health procedures, emotional adjustment and adaptation of the patient and their families. Identify, through case-finding and critical analysis, a patient's, families, or community's deviation from health and wellbeing and advocate for, initiate and recommend appropriate actions including the establishment of safe environments. Manage and deliver restorative or palliative care to the ill, disabled and dying. Participate in research, shaping health policy and inpatient and health systems management, and embrace fundamental values and obligations beyond that of a private citizen including ethical obligations and a recognition of patients' rights to confidentiality. Completing and documenting nursing assessments, seeking assistance to identify priority needs. Developing the initial nursing plan of care and updating plan with assistance as needed. Addressing patient safety needs when communicating patient care needs to other nursing staff and disciplines. Safely and effectively using equipment required for patient care, including: Procedures for cleaning, transporting and storing reusable medical equipment (RME) Adhering to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care (proper hand washing techniques, use of PPE). Recognizing actual or potential changes in condition and response to treatment, initiating appropriate action and revising the plan of care accordingly. Work Schedule: Full-Time. Night Tour of Duty (7:30 pm - 8:00 am) to include weekends and holidays. Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package VA Nurse Total Rewards that includes: 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

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 appropriat