Registered Nurse - APC/PACU/IR

Diversity Group; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Milwaukee VA is seeking a highly qualified registered nurse for the Ambulatory Procedure Center, Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Interventional Radiology. The role includes pre-operative assessment, anesthesia recovery, discharge teaching and post-procedure care.

Applicants must hold a nursing degree from an approved program, be licensed in the United States, and demonstrate English proficiency. The posting outlines bridge programs and licensure pathways, plus on-call responsibilities.

Qualifications

• English proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Approval by ACEN or CCNE for nursing program completion.
• State licensure is required to practice nursing.
• Bridge programs may allow licensure before completion.
• GNT exception for temporary appointment during licensure pursuit.

Responsibilities

• Provide pre-operative/procedural nursing care including assessment, consent, H&P and IV fluids.
• Assist with perioperative procedures and ensure lab work and pre-op testing are completed.
• Provide preoperative teaching and review discharge instructions with patients and families.
• Monitor post-operative patient recovery and signs of anesthesia effects.
• Document care clearly in the electronic health record; participate in on-call duties.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Education

Graduate nursing degree approved by ACEN/CCNE

Nursing licensure eligibility (state license)

BSN/MSN bridge program eligibility

Job description

Summary

The Milwaukee VA has 1 vacancy in their APC/PACU/IR department. Ambulatory Procedure Center (APC): prepares patients for surgery and provides discharge teaching when sending home post surgery or procedure. Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU): This unit provides immediate recovery for Veterans after surgery/sedation. Interventional Radiology RNs assist in procedures such as drain insertions and angiograms while providing moderate sedation.

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/13077642
• 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 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
• Preferred Experience: Interventional radiology Ambulatory procedures Post anesthesia care Critical care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• This position requires strong nursing skills due to potential instability post-surgery
• Duties include - but is not limited to: Provide pre-operative/procedural care - including (but not limited to) the nursing assessment of patients - consent - and H&P validations - the starting of IV fluids including venipuncture - assisting with peripheral nerve blocks - assuring all lab work and other pre-operative/procedural testing is completed and communicated to team members - confirms surgical sites are prepared and marked - and the administration of medications as ordered
• Provide clear and concise preoperative teaching and review discharge instructions with patients and families via written and verbal communication
• Monitor post-operative patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation
• Observe signs of side effects of post residual anesthesia medications
• Ensure comprehensive documentation of all phases of care and is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• NOTE: This department operates with on-call responsibilities due to the specialized nature of the work
• 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: Multiple shifts: 0730-2000 - 1130-2000 - 0930-2000 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized