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.

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/12976231
• 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: Surgical ICU - 3-years Cardiac ICU - 3-years Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• light lifting - under 15 pounds
• moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• light carrying - under 15 pounds
• straight pulling - 1 hour
• pushing - 1-3 hours
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking - 4 hours
• standing - 2-7 hours
• kneeling - 2 hours
• repeated bending - 2 hours
• climbing - use of legs and arms
• both legs required
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• specific visual requirement - 20/40 DVA - corrected
• both eyes required
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing - aid may be permitted
• sitting - 8 hours
• simple grasping - 2-4 hours
• fine manipulation - including keyboarding 4-6 hours
• twisting - 2 hours
• mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to the following: Nurse I - Level 1 Deliver fundamental - knowledge-based nursing care to assigned patients while developing technical skills
• Assess - plan - implement - and evaluate age-specific patient care
• Coordinate care focused on patient education - self-management - customer satisfaction - and continuity
• Administer medications and perform procedures according to established policies and guidelines
• Formulate plans of care based on nursing assessments - seeking guidance as needed
• Delegate elements of care appropriately based on patient needs - condition - and safety
• Apply evidence-based practice - participate in unit-based improvement activities - and incorporate patient preferences into care decisions
• Nurse I - Level 2 Provide competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients with general supervision
• Deliver direct care to acutely and critically ill patients at risk for life-threatening conditions
• Provide high-intensity care and vigilance using invasive and noninvasive monitoring data
• Coordinate care - education - self-management - and safe transitions across the continuum
• Determine appropriate delegation and ensure delegated tasks are completed
• Assist with nursing education - orientation - competencies - quality improvement - and outcomes utilization
• Collaborate with patients - families - caregivers - and the interdisciplinary team to support safe care
• Seek learning opportunities - share evidence-based practices - and participate in unit-level performance improvement
• Nurse I - Level 3 Independently plan and deliver technically competent care to patients with complex needs
• Provide direct high-intensity care for acutely and critically ill patients using advanced monitoring data
• Organize - prioritize - and manage patient care while ensuring assigned tasks are completed
• Direct others in patient-driven care for a team of patients
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to achieve the plan of care
• Serve as an emerging leader - including team leader or charge nurse responsibilities
• Precept - mentor - educate colleagues or students - and provide constructive feedback
• Apply evidence-based practice - recruit peers for unit-level improvement - and integrate patient goals into care decisions
• Nurse II Lead the provision of nursing care for patients with complex care needs
• Provide competent - evidence-based care and oversight of support staff as appropriate
• Deliver high-intensity care to acutely and critically ill patients using invasive and noninvasive monitoring data
• Lead staff involvement in care planning - decision-making - and outcome evaluation within the practice setting
• Improve patient experience - satisfaction - safety - coordination - timeliness - and environment-of-care issues
• Lead teams - collaborate across all phases of care planning - and integrate resources to improve outcomes
• Mentor - precept - teach - and support professional growth of others
• Lead evidence-based practice - resource utilization - performance improvement - and outcome evaluation within the immediate setting
• Nurse III Lead and organize care delivery to ensure continuity of care and peer accountability
• Provide expert oversight of complex care for acutely and critically ill patients at high risk for life-threatening conditions
• Lead staff planning - decision-making - and outcome evaluation beyond the immediate practice setting
• Develop - implement - evaluate - and revise policies - procedures - and guidelines
• Lead initiatives to improve patient experience - safety - advocacy - ethics - and care delivery outcomes
• Mentor current and future leaders and provide formal or informal feedback to peers
• Lead educational initiatives and guide professional growth beyond the immediate practice setting
• Lead evidence-based practice - research integration - performance improvement - resource management - and documented program- or service-level outcomes
• 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 Tour - Evenings & Nights Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized