Registered Nurse - Operating Room

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Federal benefits

Pension plan

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Perioperative Operating Room Registered Nurse to lead and participate in care for patients undergoing surgical and invasive procedures.

The role emphasizes professional development, adherence to standards, and collaboration within the surgical team. The RN will coordinate perioperative care, administer medications, ensure patient safety, and maintain accurate documentation.

Qualifications

• English proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Must be licensed as a registered nurse in the United States.
• Approved nursing education program (ADN/ Diploma or BSN/ MSN) and board eligibility.
• Master's bridge programs may be considered for licensure after graduation.
• Foreign-educated nurses require degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and coordinates care for patients undergoing operative and invasive procedures.
• Delivers knowledge-based care while developing technical skills.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components.
• Coordinates care focusing on education, self-management, and patient satisfaction.
• Administers medications and procedures per policies and guidelines.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.
• Operates as circulator and scrub nurse in the OR across surgical specialties.
• Maintains knowledge of AORN standards, VHA directives, and SOPs.
• Ensures comprehensive documentation in the EHR for perioperative care.
• Promotes an evidence-based-practice culture and ongoing professional development.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Education

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN)

RN license (US)

Degree equivalency validation for foreign nursing education

Job description

Summary

The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/ invasive procedure. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction.

The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/ invasive procedure. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction.

Qualifications

• 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/13069213
• 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: Preferred 3 years current experience at major hospital setting
• Preferred proficient in all surgical subspecialties
• Preferred experience in Open Heart - Complex Ortho - Complex Neuro Procedures
• CNOR Certification and scrub experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The Operating Room Registered Nurse plans - directs - and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures - taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well-being
• Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills
• 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
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• The Operating Room Registered Nurse is expected to function proficiently in both the circulator and scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served
• The Operating Room Registered Nurse maintains knowledge of current Association of pen-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives - and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Protects the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects - performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items - participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation - policy - and procedures
• Manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administers medications safely and correctly - performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• 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.VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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: Monday - Friday 06:30am - 3:00pm - 09:00am - 05:30pm - with on-call duties
• Subject to change based on the facility needs Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized