Registered Nurse - Float Pool

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

50 days paid time off

Traditional federal pension

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Seattle is seeking a Float Pool Registered Nurse (RN) who is dedicated and adaptable. In this position, you will provide high-quality patient-centered care while addressing staffing shortages.

This role requires strong nursing competencies and proficiency in the English language. The VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package along with significant opportunities for career growth and development.

Qualifications

• Proficient in written and spoken English.
• Possess a current active nursing license in any U.S. state.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality patient-centered care.
• Maintain competencies and complete mandatory trainings.
• Collaborate with a team for patient management.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Nursing Competencies

Patient Care

Education

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Current active nursing license

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Job description

Summary

VA Puget Sound is seeking a dedicated and adaptable Float Pool Registered Nurse (RN). In this dynamic role the RN provides high-quality patient‑centered care while covering day‑to‑day staffing shortages. This is an open continuous announcement. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing/rolling basis and qualified candidates will be considered as long as a vacancy remains unfilled. The announcement may be closed at any time after the initial open period once all vacancies have been filled.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency; per 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless 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 a 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 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/12982179.
• 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 needs; an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level I 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 two years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I – Level II or a BSN and one year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I – Level II; 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 two years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I – Level III; or an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III; or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III; 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; an MSN 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 Master’s degree in a 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 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 BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III.
• Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
• Preferred Experience: Bachelor of Science in Nursing five years prior acute care medical/surgical experience. (Reference: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/).

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimal care.
• Responsible for maintaining competencies and required job duties such as reading email, attending in‑services, and actively participating in staff meetings.
• Completes mandatory trainings.
• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment.
• Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures.
• Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients’ condition and responds appropriately.
• Implements physician’s/provider’s orders in a timely and complete manner.
• Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner.
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments – using the nursing process – based on the ANA Standards of Nursing.
• Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow‑up as needed.
• Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care and establishing goals.
• Updates plan of care.
• Assesses patient learning needs – learning preference and readiness to learn.
• Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs – instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning.
• Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes.
• Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient’s responses and outcomes.
• Uses the Electronic Health Record (EHR) software per policy.
• Works as a team with NAs and LPNs and delegates follows up on tasks.
• Delivers medications using BCMA.
• Adheres to Fall Prevention protocols.
• Adheres to one‑to‑one and close nurse observation protocols.
• Provides complex wound care.
• Administers blood products as ordered.
• Administers IV fluids – TPN – Lipids – PCA and manages multiple IV medications while checking compatibility.
• Completes cardiac telemetry monitoring training and passes exam with 80% or greater within first six months of working on an Acute Care unit.
• Monitors telemetry and responds to rhythm changes timely.
• Adheres to remote telemetry procedures and policies.
• Provides coverage to telemetry monitoring – as assigned.
• Serves as primary staffing resource to COVID unit when operating – to include coverage of charge nurse duties – as assigned.

Benefits

• 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 401(k) 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 U.S. State or territory.
• Work Schedule – 7:30 pm – 8:00 am and 11:30 pm – 8:00 am with rotating weekends/holidays.
• Compressed/Flexible – Authorized Telework – Not authorized. Virtual – This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives – Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) – Not authorized.