Registered Nurse- Cardiology Device

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Implantable Cardiac Device & Stress Testing Registered Nurse (RN) at Wilmington VA Medical Center provides specialized cardiology care, focusing on device interrogation, remote monitoring, echocardiography, and stress testing procedures. You will support patient care across multiple non-invasive services.

Applicants must hold an RN license and meet English proficiency requirements. Experience with cardiac devices is preferred; federal benefits and a day-shift schedule accompany this role.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required by VA standards.
• Graduate of a nursing program approved and accredited by ACEN/CCNE or equivalent.
• License in good standing in a US state; temporary appointment options may apply during bridge program.
• Foreign education validation may be required for equivalence.
• Reference VA Qualification Standards for Nurse classifications.

Responsibilities

• Interrogates, reprograms, and troubleshoots implantable cardiac devices (pacemakers, ICDs, loop recorders).
• Performs nursing care within the Cardiology Department, including Echocardiography and non-invasive testing.
• Supports remote surveillance, device monitoring, and education for patients with implanted devices.
• Performs 12-lead EKGs and processes tracings for physician interpretation.
• Assists with pacemaker/defibrillator remote surveillance and related recalls and safety alerts.

Skills

Cardiology RN

Device interrogation

Remote monitoring

Rhythm interpretation

Education

RN license / nursing degree

Tools

Echocardiography equipment

Job description

Summary

This position is located at the Wilmington VA medical Center for a Registered Nurse in Cardiology.

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/13084523
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience with cardiac implantable devices - including pacemakers - ICD's - CRT-P - and CRT-D devices
• -Experience with device interrogation - programming support - and remote device monitoring
• - Ability to recognize and interpret basic cardiac rhythms - arrythmias - and device-related abnormalities
• - Familiarity with device platforms/ manufacturers such as Medtronic - Boston Scientific - Biotronic
• - Experience reviewing and triaging remote transmissions and device alerts
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• Also requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - lifting and pushing
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Duties

• The Implantable Cardiac Device & Stress Testing Registered Nurse (RN) duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Interrogates - reprograms - and troubleshoots all CIED (which includes pacemaker - defibrillators - and loop recorders)
• Performs nursing care within the Cardiology Department including Echocardiography
• The non-invasive areas of Cardiology include Echocardiography - Cardiac Stress Testing & Imaging - Cardiac Monitors such as Holter Monitors and Zio Patches - and the Pacemaker/Defibrillator Interrogations & Remote Surveillance Program
• Provides nursing care and support for patients undergoing echocardiographic & cardiac stress testing procedures such as transthoracic echo - dobutamine or chemically induced stress echo - exercise stress echo - transesophageal echo - exercise treadmill - and nuclear stress testing procedures
• Applies cardiac monitors for home monitoring needs
• Utilizes cardiac rhythm recognition in scanning Holter monitors to identify cardiac rhythms and prepares data reports including rhythm strips for physician interpretation
• Performs 12 lead EKGs and utilize the software for editing and processing of EKG tracings
• Assists with management of the pacemaker / defibrillator remote surveillance program
• Troubleshoots remote monitoring equipment - provides education to patients on remote monitoring needs - pulls remote monitoring schedules for patients - ensures initial remote transmission post implant is successful - assists with abnormal remote transmissions under the guidance of the Cardiologist or Cardiology medical team and assists as needed for device/lead recalls and safety alerts
• 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: 7:30am-4:00pm - 8:00 am-4:30pm