Registered Nurse (Inpatient)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks an Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse to provide safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care across the continuum in an inpatient setting.

Responsibilities include assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care, administering medications, coordinating with the interdisciplinary team, and educating patients and families. At higher grades, the role may lead staff, engage in practice improvement, and influence broader clinical outcomes while

Qualifications

• English language proficiency as required by VA policy.
• Current, full, active licensure as a Registered Nurse in the United States.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by accrediting bodies (ACEN/CCNE).
• Foreign nursing education requires degree equivalency validation.
• State license must be current and unrestricted.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe, evidence-based inpatient nursing care using the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care; administer medications and treatments.
• Coordinate with the interdisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care.
• Educate patients and families on care plans, treatments, and safety.
• May lead staff, participate in practice improvement, and contribute to outcomes.

Skills

English proficiency

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Patient education

Education

RN licensure

Graduate from approved nursing program

Job description

Summary

The Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse provides safe - evidence-based - patient-centered care across the continuum. The nurse assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care; administers medications and treatments; coordinates with the interdisciplinary team; educates patients and families; promotes safety and quality improvement; and - at higher grades - leads staff - practice improvement - and broader clinical outcomes.

Summary

The Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse provides safe - evidence-based - patient-centered care across the continuum. The nurse assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care; administers medications and treatments; coordinates with the interdisciplinary team; educates patients and families; promotes safety and quality improvement; and - at higher grades - leads staff - practice improvement - and broader clinical outcomes.

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/13070803
• 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/
• Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary
• Some work may require movement between offices - hospitals - warehouses - and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work
• Work may also require walking/standing - in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site
• Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds
• Preferred Experience: Bachelor Prepared Nurse
• 1-2 Years Recent Med/Surg Experience.

Duties

• This position is located in Unit 2W
• Nurse I - Level 1 Provides fundamental inpatient nursing care with close supervision using the nursing process
• Assesses patient needs - administers medications and treatments - and evaluates responses to care
• Establishes therapeutic relationships and involves patients - families - and caregivers in care planning and education
• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning and coordinates care across the continuum
• Applies evidence-based practice - safety principles - and appropriate delegation to support patient outcomes
• Nurse I - Level 2 Provides competent - evidence-based inpatient nursing care with general supervision
• Plans - implements - and evaluates technically competent care for assigned patients
• Coordinates patient education - self-management - and transitions across the healthcare continuum
• Directs and delegates appropriate care while ensuring assigned tasks are completed safely and timely
• Participates in interdisciplinary care - professional development - and unit-level performance improvement
• Nurse I - Level 3 Independently provides self-directed - evidence-based nursing care for patients with complex needs
• Prioritizes and manages patient care while evaluating outcomes and adjusting plans as needed
• Functions as an emerging leader or charge nurse by directing staff and coordinating care
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to achieve patient-centered plans of care and improve safety
• Educates colleagues and students - mentors staff - and supports evidence-based performance improvement
• Nurse II Leads evidence-based nursing care for patients with complex needs within the immediate practice setting
• Applies clinical judgment to lead care planning - decision-making - interventions - and outcome evaluation
• Improves patient care by addressing safety - coordination - timeliness - process - and patient experience concerns
• Leads interdisciplinary teams - mentoring - precepting - education - and professional development activities
• Leads evidence-based practice - performance improvement - and effective resource utilization with demonstrated outcomes
• Nurse III Leads and organizes evidence-based nursing care for complex patients and populations beyond the immediate practice setting
• Applies advanced clinical judgment to improve care planning - decision-making - and outcomes across programs or services
• Leads initiatives addressing patient safety - experience - coordination - timeliness - and care concerns
• Leads interdisciplinary teams - mentoring - education - and development of current and future clinical leaders
• Leads evidence-based practice - performance improvement - policy development - and resource management with outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting
• 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: Includes Days/Nights/Weekends/Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized