Registered Nurse (Polytrauma Inpatient)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards package

Job summary

VA Palo Alto Health Care System is seeking an experienced Inpatient Registered Nurse to care for Veterans with brain injuries, stroke, and neuromuscular disorders. The RN will work with an interdisciplinary team to coordinate rehabilitation, promote independence, and educate patients and families to improve safety and outcomes.

The role requires an accredited nursing education program completion and an active RN license in the United States, with preferred experience in polytrauma and

Qualifications

• Must be graduate of an approved nursing program and licensed to practice nursing in the United States.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license (state) required.
• Preferred: one or more years of RN experience in medical-surgical, brain injury, stroke, or polytrauma settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide inpatient nursing care to Veterans with brain injuries, stroke, and polytrauma conditions.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team.
• Educate Veterans, families, and caregivers on treatment, self-management, and ongoing care needs.
• Coordinate care and participate in discharge planning; monitor patient responses and document assessments and outcomes.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

RN license (US)

ADN/ Diploma in Nursing or BSN

ACEN/CCNE accredited nursing program

Job description

Summary

The Polytrauma Inpatient Registered Nurse at VA Palo Alto Health Care System provides care to Veterans with brain injuries - stroke - and neuromuscular disorders. The RN collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to coordinate care - promote rehabilitation and independence - educate patients and families - and improve patient safety and care outcomes.

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
• Preferred Experience: One or more years of registered nurse experience
• Medical-surgical nursing experience
• Experience caring for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or stroke
• Polytrauma nursing experience
• 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/13104486
• 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: Please refer to the physical standards as outlined in VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Provide inpatient nursing care to Veterans with brain injuries - stroke - and other conditions requiring rehabilitation
• Assess patient needs and develop - implement - and evaluate individualized care plans
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to promote rehabilitation - independence - and quality of life
• Administer medications and treatments and perform nursing procedures according to established policies
• Incorporate Veterans' preferences - values - and beliefs into patient-centered care
• Educate Veterans - families - and caregivers on treatment - self-management - and ongoing care needs
• Coordinate patient care and participate in interdisciplinary discharge planning
• Monitor patient responses and document assessments - interventions - and outcomes
• Delegate care appropriately based on patient needs - condition - and safety
• Apply evidence-based practices and participate in patient safety and quality improvement activities
• Maintain required competencies and participate in unit-specific training and continuing education
• Perform charge nurse - mentoring - and leadership responsibilities appropriate to grade - competency - and assignment
• 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: 0730 - 2000 with rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized