Registered Nurse - Outpatient Staff

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Baltimore VA Medical Center is seeking an Outpatient Staff RN to deliver high-quality nursing care in an outpatient setting. The successful candidate will be responsible for comprehensive patient assessment, treatment administration, and care coordination with a multidisciplinary team.

Applicants must hold a valid nursing license in the United States and meet VA qualification standards. Experience in outpatient or specialty clinics is preferred, with emphasis on patient education and safety

Qualifications

• Graduate of an approved nursing program with active U.S. nursing license.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted licensure as a registered nurse.
• Foreign-educated nurses require credential evaluation.
• GNT exception allows temporary appointment during licensure pursuit.

Responsibilities

• Provide fundamental, knowledge-based nursing care to assigned patients.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care with age-specific considerations.
• Coordinate comprehensive patient care with education, self-management, and continuity of care.
• Administer medications and nursing procedures per policies and guidelines.
• Demonstrate leadership and professional judgment in complex care scenarios.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and patient safety programs.

Skills

English proficiency

State nursing license

BSN/ADN with bridge consideration

GNT exception familiarity

Clinical nursing assessment

Education

Nursing degree (ADN/ Diploma)

BSN degree

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN)

Foreign education evaluation

Job description

Summary

The incumbent will be working at the Baltimore VA Medical Center located in Baltimore - Maryland as an Outpatient Staff RN. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States - providing care to millions of enrolled Veterans through a nationwide network of VA medical centers and outpatient clinics.

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/13078937
• 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: Three years recent med surg experience and recent outpatient clinic experience
• Experience in a GYN - ENT - Urology - Vascular - General Surgery - Podiatry and Orthopedics surgical outpatient settings preferred
• HCG and A1C POC testing experience
• Strong phlebotomy skills
• Immunization administration experience
• Keen computer and organizational skills
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: his position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• This position also requires the ability to lift 30 lbs
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• 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 complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• The following responsibilities are assigned to the incumbent but are not limited to those listed
• Provides fundamental - knowledge-based nursing care to assigned patients while developing and maintaining technical nursing skills
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates patient care using age-specific considerations and established nursing standards
• Coordinates comprehensive patient care with an emphasis on patient education - self-management - continuity of care - and customer satisfaction
• Administers medications - treatments - and nursing procedures in accordance with established policies - procedures - and clinical guidelines
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care
• Collaborates with physicians - nurses - pharmacists - therapists - social workers - and other interdisciplinary team members to promote positive patient outcomes
• Monitors patient responses to treatment and modifies nursing interventions based on assessment findings and changes in patient condition
• Provides education to patients and families regarding medications - treatment plans - disease management - self-care - and preventive health measures
• Demonstrates leadership - professional judgment - clinical experience - and creative problem-solving when managing complex patient-care situations
• Participates actively in unit- and program-level quality improvement initiatives - performance improvement activities - and customer-service programs
• Promotes a safe - respectful - patient-centered environment while addressing patient needs and supporting high-quality healthcare delivery
• Demonstrates accountability - professionalism - and effective communication while coordinating care across the healthcare continuum
• 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 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized