Registered Nurse-Urgent Care

Summary

Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines.

Duties

Assumes responsibility and accountability for all elements of the nursing process and evidence-based practice when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Perform comprehensive and focused nursing assessments for patients presenting to the urgent care clinic. By assessment, plans, implements and evaluates care based on age and life stages, state of health, race and culture, values, and previous experiences. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction. Updates Emergency Department Integration Software (EDIS) board promptly, as necessary. Applies the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) or other triage tools to determine the urgency of care required. Performs customary nursing care for clinically complex patient populations. Triages patients, administers medications, monitors intravenous (IV) fluid therapy, interprets cardiac rhythms, documents all care provided in the Electronic Healthcare Record (EHR) and carries out other procedures per established policies and guidelines. Administers medications, treatments, and interventions as prescribed, adhering to safe medication administration practices. Performs outpatient IV infusion therapy. Performs point of care (POC) testing at bedside. Influences patient outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and reporting significant clinical findings in a timely manner. Participates in discharge rounding and provides clinically relevant information to the interdisciplinary team. Performs discharge instruction to include disease specific information, diet, physical activity, effects of medications, and future appointments/referrals. Assesses the Veterans' ability to learn and evaluates understanding of all education provided during Urgent Care visit and at discharge. Maintains Resuscitation Quality Improvement certification up to date (RQI BLS). Responds promptly to emergency situations, initiating life-saving measures according to established emergency protocols. Performs CPR, defibrillation, and other critical interventions. Utilizes emergency equipment, such as BLS carts, airway management tools, and medications as required and according to BLS/ACLS guidelines. Participates in code blue and other emergency response drills and actual events, ensuring readiness to handle critical incidents. Engages in ongoing training and simulation exercises to maintain preparedness. Assists with stabilization and transfer of critically ill patients to higher levels of care when necessary. Works with transport teams to ensure safe and efficient patient transfers. Maintains certification in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) Part 1and Part 2, Moderate/High Risk Workplace. Maintains knowledge of and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives, as well as customer service programs. Functions as a systems coordinator; monitors progress and intervenes as necessary to ensure that patient outcomes are achieved within anticipated timeframes. Monitors progress along clinical pathways, analyzes variations and initiates appropriate actions. Is a role model in the provision of excellent customer service. Provides orientation, training, and ongoing support to new staff members as assigned. Completes and documents Nursing Notes in EHR, as applicable, in a timely manner and closes the Encounter Notes for patients not seen by a provider. Notes will be closed by the end of tour of duty daily. Areas to be addressed include Encounters: reasons for visit-Service Connection; Primary assignment-Service connected conditions under the Diagnosis tab; Procedures, etc. Completes the Blood Glucose meter quality check when needed. Answers telephone in a courteous and assistive manner, obtains necessary information, communicates messages and/or refers to the appropriate team member for disposition. Other duties as assigned. 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: 1:00pm to 9:30 PM 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.) HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment. 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 r