Nurse- Emergency Department

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs in Atlanta, GA seeks an Emergency Department Registered Nurse to provide and supervise direct patient care. This role requires assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care across age groups with emphasis on education, self-management, and safety in a high-acuity environment.

Responsibilities include rapid assessment, triage, medication administration, and adherence to evidence-based policies.

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of an approved nursing program and eligible for state licensure.
• Current, full, active nursing license in a U.S. state or territory.
• Preferred experience in Emergency Department settings and rapid assessment.

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care using the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients across age groups.
• Administer medications and procedures per policies and guidelines.

Skills

ED Nursing

Triage

Critical decision making

Team collaboration

Education

RN license

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

BSN

Tools

EHR systems

Predictive triage software

Job description

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.

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/13061422
• 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: Minimum 1 year - as a Registered Nurse in an Emergency Department or trauma center
• Experience with rapid assessment - triage - and critical decision-making in high-pressure environments
• Able to handle acute - unstable - and diverse patient populations including trauma - cardiac - psychiatric - and pediatric emergencies
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) are required
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) although not required - strong plus
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) credential strong plus
• Vascular access certification is a plus
• Exposure to multidisciplinary team collaboration - working with physicians - social workers and other care staff
• Proficiency with tools like EHR systems - and predictive triage software is increasingly valued
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid.

Duties

• Major Duties: The Emergency Department (ED) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care
• Collaborates in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Provides urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical - surgical - and psychiatric conditions
• Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Leads and develops unit based meetings
• Able to teach and support novice leaners in the 5- Tier Emergency Severity Index(ESl)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
• system for sorting of patient care priorities
• Able to reconcile and communicate staffing needs on the unit and across the local facility
• Responsible for the department resources - recognizes equipment and supply needs - and communicates to the leadership
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing care
• 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
• Use the assessment data to determine diagnoses - problems - or other concerns
• Identify expected outcomes to develop a collaborative and individualized plan for each patient
• Recognizes patient changes and able to activate the appropriate level of care for the patient
• 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: Monday through Friday 7:30pm to 8:00am
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized