Registered Nurse- Med/ Surg

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration, John Cochran Division, VA St. Louis Health Care System, St. Louis, MO, is seeking a Registered Nurse for Med/Surg.

The RN assesses, plans, implements and evaluates care with emphasis on patient education, self-management, and satisfaction across the continuum. Administers medications and procedures per policies. Minimum requirements include English proficiency, ACEN/CCNE-accredited education or equivalent, and current RN licensure; BSN preferred.

Qualifications

• Requires English language proficiency.
• Graduate of an nursing program approved by ACEN or CCNE or equivalent.
• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license in the US state.
• Foreign education considered with degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver patient care per nursing process and policies.
• Administer medications and procedures.
• Coordinate patient education and self-management across care continuum.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to improve patient outcomes.

Skills

Communication

Critical thinking

Patient education

Team collaboration

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Registered Nurse licensure

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse- Med/ Surg position is located at the John Cochran Division - VA St. Louis Health Care System - St. Louis - MO. The RN 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/13092927
• 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: BSN Preferred
• 2 years of clinical RN experience
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued carrying/ lifting - walking - standing - kneeling - sitting and repeated bending throughout the shift
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must comply with any Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Position(s) listed under this Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) MAY be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• Applicants selected for an EDRP-eligible position will be notified in their conditional job offer
• The selectee must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) - and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply
• Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Deliver fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills
• Demonstrate integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills - and technically competent practice while providing care to clients
• Demonstrate proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Execute position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care
• Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments
• Seek guidance in how to improve care provided to patients and families
• Delegate elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs - condition - and safety of the patient
• Bring principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills
• Provide competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients with oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting
• Assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Partner with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary team to promote effective and safe transitions across the health care continuum
• Integrate knowledge - skills - abilities - and judgment and is self-directed in goal setting for managing complex situations
• Validate understanding of the rationale for care processes and decisions
• Question clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Demonstrate competence in practice and decision-making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Provide peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Contribute professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
• Collaborate in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients
• Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• 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: Full Time
• Six 12-hour and one 8-hour shift per pay period
• Tours include Days/ Nights / Weekends / Holidays - and are subject to change based on the needs of the health care system
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.