Registered Nurse - Outpatient Clinic (Freeport)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Freeport (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal benefits (health/vision/dental

Retirement plan

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks an Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) at the Freeport VA Clinic in Freeport, IL. The role emphasizes leadership in outpatient care, education, and quality improvement while coordinating care for Veterans in a primary care setting.

Requirements include nursing licensure, BSN preferred, and compliance with VA qualification standards. The position includes a comprehensive benefits package and a regular daytime schedule.

Qualifications

• English proficiency required per 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Graduate of a nursing program approved by accrediting body (ACEN/CCNE).
• State licensure and temporary/permits as applicable; bridge programs may qualify for transition.
• Foreign nursing graduates must have degree equivalency validation if applicable.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing registration in US territory or DC.
• GNT exception allows temporary appointment while pursuing licensure.
• BSN preferred for higher classifications.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates leadership in delivering holistic outpatient care.
• Evaluates practice using best evidence and provides feedback.
• Fosters a safe environment for professional development of staff.
• Contributes nursing perspective in interdisciplinary discussions.
• Partners to effect change and drive optimal outcomes.
• Performs dual role as Primary Care Clinic RN and Care Manager, delivering direct and longitudinal care.

Skills

English proficiency

Leadership

Evidence-based practice

Education

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

BSN preferred

State licensure - active

NCLEX or equivalent

Foreign education equivalency validation

Job description

Summary

The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based outpatient care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting. The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. The position is located at the Freeport VA Clinic in Freeport - IL.

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
• Preferred Experience: BSN preferred
• 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/13104632
• 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: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients and utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Duties

• The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic - outpatient 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 outpatient nursing care
• Shares educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
• Questions outpatient clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain evidence-based-practice
• Performs a dual role as a Primary Care Clinic Registered Nurse and Care Manager - providing direct patient care and longitudinal care coordination for Veterans
• 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 - Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available: Ad-Hoc - as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized