Registered Nurse - Operating Room

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) at Veterans Health Administration provides comprehensive nursing care for patients undergoing surgical procedures. The RN plans, directs, and coordinates perioperative care while respecting patient dignity and collaborating with the surgical team.

Duties include maintaining sterile technique, preventing injury, counting instruments, participating in Time Out, managing specimens and meds, documenting in the EHR, and supporting unit

Qualifications

• Must be a graduate of an approved nursing program.
• Must hold an active RN license in the United States.
• English proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Foreign-educated nurses require degree equivalency validation.
• State licensure must be active and unrestricted.
• CNOR certification is preferred for OR access.

Responsibilities

• Assure sterility of the surgical field and safe instrument use.
• Protect the patient from injury due to chemical, electrical, mechanical or thermal sources.
• Perform instrument and specimen counting to prevent retained items.
• Participate in Time Out to verify correct site/side and documentation.
• Administer medications and monitor wound perfusion; manage specimens.
• Document care comprehensively in the electronic health record.
• Organize workload and complete assignments efficiently.
• Engage patients and families in care planning with respect and inclusivity.

Skills

English language proficiency

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

RN license (US)

Nursing degree or diploma (ADN/BSN)

ACEN/CCNE accreditation

US state licensure with temporary/ permanent appointment eligibility

Foreign educated nurses degree validation (ICD)

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 OR RN 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.

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/13055678
• 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: CNOR Certified OR Experience (to include scrub) Laser Operating Room Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Assuring the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner
• Protecting the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects
• Performing counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items
• Participating in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and following implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation - policy - and procedures
• Managing the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administering medications safely and correctly - performing interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performing interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
• Ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• Knowing what reusable instruments - equipment - medical devices - or supplies are in use in the clinical area
• Managing workload as assigned
• organizing - and completing own assignments in an efficient and appropriate manner
• Engaging patients - families - and other caregivers to incorporate knowledge - values - and beliefs into care planning without judgement or discrimination
• Participating in unit based educational activities and continuing education requirements
• Participating in unit-based activities to improve and deliver cost effective patient care
• Protecting the data from unauthorized release or from loss - alteration - or unauthorized deletion
• 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 0700-1530 with rotating on-call Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.