Registered Nurse (Outpatient Staff Nurse)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) seeks a Float Registered Nurse to cover Primary Care and Specialty Care outpatient clinics in the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System. The home base will the North West San Antonio VA Clinic with travel to other clinics as staffing needs arise.

The role requires RN licensure, English proficiency, and the ability to travel within the San Antonio metro area to support multiple outpatient clinics.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required
• Graduate of a nursing program approved by accrediting bodies (ACEN/CCNE)
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN licensure in a US state or territory (incl. DC)
• Foreign nursing education evaluated for equivalency when applicable
• Reference VA Qualification Standards for nurse progression and licensure requirements

Responsibilities

• Assess and triage unscheduled patients via walk-ins, telephone, or secure messaging
• Ensure comprehensive, current documentation in the patient’s medical record
• Use nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with medical teams and family
• Lead intradisciplinary teamwork to manage complex patient care
• Perform clinic procedures such as vital signs, EKGs, immunizations, injections, blood draws, wound care
• Promote patient self-management and preventive care while maintaining customer service
• Oversee LVN duties and provide preceptorship and orientation to new staff
• Participate in all Patient Aligned Care Team activities, huddles, and travel to Primary Care Clinics within the San Antonio metro area

Job description

Summary

This is a Float Registered Nurse. This position will cover Primary Care(PC)/Specialty Care(SC) Outpatient Clinics at South Texas Veterans Healthcare System that are located in San Antonio. The incumbents home base clinic will be North West San Antonio VA Clinic but will be required to travel to other Outpatient Clinics depending on their staffing needs.

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/13105346
• 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 Nurse Experience -Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) -Primary Care/PACT Experience/Emergency Room (ER) Experience -Triage/Telephone Triage -Basic Life Support (BLS) certification -Nursing certification preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required - depending on the needs of the organization.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: The RN will perform a wide range of clinical and/or administrative duties and will utilize nursing skills when assessing and triaging unscheduled patients as walk-ins - over the phone or via secure messaging
• Assures current - comprehensive - and timely documentation is contained in the patient's medical record and any other pertinent records
• Uses the nursing process - evidencebased practice - and effective communication to collaborate with healthcare providers - family and/or caregiver as well as internal VHA and community-based services
• The RN must work collaboratively within an intradisciplinary team to assist in the care of complex populations
• Performs a variety of tasks to include but not limited to: Vital signs - EKGs - immunizations - injections - blood cultures - setting up and assisting with clinic procedures - wound care and other tasks as required
• Promotes patient self-management - prevention - and wellness - while incorporating critical thinking and customer service skills into all aspects of the role
• The RN oversees the duties and performance of the LVNs
• In addition to functioning as charge nurse and or preceptor
• prepares schedule - makes/adjusts staffing assignments - etc
• They will foster/support a learning environment by participation in the orientation of new employees - providing feedback as appropriate and seeking opportunities for self-improvement
• Must be able to participate in all patient aligned care team activities - huddles - training and travel to all Primary Care Clinics in the San Antonio metro area
• 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: 7:0 a.m
• to 3:30p.m
• or 8:00am to 4:30pm - Monday-Friday (Duty Station and hours may change due to needs of the clinic) Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized