Registered Nurse (Progressive Care)

Summary

The Progressive Care Registered Nurse provides comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care to acutely ill Veterans who are moderately stable but at increased risk for deterioration. Responsibilities include patient assessment, care planning, medication administration, clinical monitoring, patient education, and care coordination. The nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, promotes patient safety, supports professional development, and participates in quality improvement initiatives.

Duties

Nurse I, Level 1 Direct Patient Care: Provides fundamental nursing care, including assessments, care planning, medications, and evaluations under close supervision. Care Coordination: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to coordinate treatment and ensure continuity of care. Patient Education: Educates Veterans and caregivers on treatment plans, self-management, and health maintenance. Clinical Responsibilities: Performs nursing procedures, delegates appropriate tasks, and seeks guidance when needed. Professional Development: Participates in orientation, continuing education, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. Nurse I, Level 2 Direct Patient Care: Provides evidence-based care to acutely ill Veterans requiring intensive monitoring. Clinical Management: Organizes patient care, performs assessments, administers treatments, and evaluates responses under general supervision. Care Coordination: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, delegates tasks, and oversees nursing support personnel. Patient Safety: Promotes safe care transitions, incorporates patient preferences, and addresses clinical concerns. Quality Improvement: Participates in performance improvement, shares evidence-based practices, and pursues professional development. Nurse I, Level 3 Complex Patient Care: Independently plans, delivers, and evaluates nursing care for Veterans with complex needs. Clinical Decision-Making: Applies clinical judgment and prioritization to manage competing demands with occasional supervision. Team Leadership: Serves as charge nurse or team leader, directing staff and coordinating interdisciplinary care. Education and Mentorship: Provides clinical guidance, feedback, and education to colleagues and students. Evidence-Based Practice: Promotes evidence-based interventions, quality improvement, and effective resource utilization. Nurse II Complex Patient Care: Leads evidence-based nursing care for Veterans requiring intensive monitoring and intervention. Clinical Leadership: Coordinates nursing activities and improves outcomes within the immediate practice setting. Quality Improvement: Leads unit-level initiatives to improve safety, outcomes, processes, and resource utilization. Professional Development: Mentors, precepts, and educates nursing personnel to improve clinical competency. Patient Advocacy: Resolves care concerns, promotes effective transitions, and improves Veteran satisfaction and safety. Nurse III Expert Clinical Practice: Leads complex, evidence-based nursing care with outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Program Leadership: Leads interdisciplinary initiatives, influences policies, and improves care across programs or services. Quality Improvement: Leads evidence-based initiatives with measurable outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Professional Development: Leads educational programs, mentors nurses, and advances clinical leadership. Patient Safety and Innovation: Leads initiatives improving Veteran experiences, safety, clinical outcomes, and resource utilization. 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: Compressed Tours, including Days/Nights/Weekends/Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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/13110316. 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