Registered Nurse - Nursing Surgical Specialty

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Surgical Specialty Clinic / Care Coordinator role supports veteran-centered perioperative care by coordinating assessments, documentation, and care across pre- and post-operative phases. This position emphasizes evidence-based nursing and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe, efficient care pathways for veterans and their families.

The incumbent will manage patient education, discharge planning, and care coordination within the Surgical Specialty Service, contributing to

Qualifications

• RN with state license to practice nursing
• Nursing degree from an accredited program (ADN/BSN/ higher)
• Ability to work with veterans and families in perioperative care

Responsibilities

• Coordinate safe, timely perioperative care for Veterans
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care across pre- and post-operative periods
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure readiness for surgery
• Provide patient education and discharge planning across inpatient/outpatient settings
• Manage care coordination and optimize clinic flow and communications
• Support care continuity with Veterans, families, and caregivers

Job description

Summary

The Surgical Specialty Clinic / Care Coordinator applies advanced clinical knowledge and judgement to deliver high-quality and evidence-based care to veterans and their families. This role includes completing assessments and ensuring accurate documentation in electronic health record in accordance to established policies and procedures

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/13098309
• 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 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: You must be able to perform work that requires regular and recurrent bending - lifting 30 pounds or more - stooping - climbing - twisting and/or bending - standing and/or walking almost constantly during the course of the day - reaching above the shoulder - stretching - and similar activities supporting various weights
• walking and standing for 8 hours
• frequent pushing medication carts - wheelchairs - litters - beds
• use of fingers - both hands and both legs
• emotional stability (you must be able to care for Veterans with various medical and psychiatric illnesses who at times may exhibit unpredictable behavior and may have the potential to be physically or verbally assaultive)
• near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" / far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other / both eyes required with ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing aid permitted in order to sufficiently hear various alarms and respond immediately

Duties

• RN NG57 pay scale Note to VA Employees: Grades and steps will be unaffected by this change but could result in a change to your current salary due to different pay scales
• The Surgical Care Coordinator (SCC) is a vital member of the Surgical Specialty Service responsible for coordinating safe -timely -and patient-centered perioperative care for Veterans undergoing surgical procedures
• The SCC ensures readiness for surgery - collaborates across multidisciplinary teams - and guides Veterans throughout the pre-operative and post-operative process
• The Surgical Care Coordinator provides direct operational support to surgical specialty clinics - ensuring smooth daily flow - safe patient care - and consistent communication across teams
• Responsibilities include: Cross-coverage for high-volume or understaffed surgical clinics - collaborating with nurse managers to stabilize clinic workloads - coordinating with clinic LPNs and RNs to maintain efficient patient movement - reinforce coverage plans - and minimize clinic flow disruptions
• The Care Coordinator Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• 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
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• Duties include but are not limited to Providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• Provides patient management - care coordination - and discharge/disposition planning for inpatient and outpatient settings
• The Care Coordinator assists Veterans - family members - and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs
• This includes - but is not limited to - acute - chronic - multiple - complex - catastrophic - or life-threatening illnesses
• combat stress - residuals of traumatic brain injury
• community adjustment
• addictions and other health problems
• Coordinates care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care
• Coordination also includes assuring services interface within the Veterans Affairs (VA) and community programs to provide continuity of care to patients
• Addresses psychosocial - as well as nursing and medical needs of patients and their families/caregivers - through participation with the interdisciplinary care team
• Coordinates and expedites care from diagnosis to treatment
• Analyzes and manages laboratory and radiology results and provides information to the providers
• Utilizes databases to provide population management to track patient care through all episodes of care
• Evaluates care and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate provision of services
• Advocates for holistic care through patient/family education and provider interaction and implements an educational plan to meet the patient care needs
• Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Evaluates practice in an ongoing process - based on best evidence
• Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
• Partners with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Shares educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture
• Other duties as assigned
• 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: Based on the needs of the service Telework: Ad Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized