Registered Nurse - Post Anesthesia Care (PACU)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off (PTO)

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Retirement benefits

Federal holidays

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs in Iowa City is seeking a Post Anesthesia Care Registered Nurse to guide Veterans through the peri-anesthesia journey, assessing, intervening, and educating to restore stability and comfort.

Major duties include coordinating care across Pre-anesthesia to extended post-anesthesia care, documenting thoroughly, and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure high-quality, patient-centered outcomes.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program (ACEN/CCNE) or equivalent per VA standards.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in the United States or District of Columbia.
• For foreign-trained graduates, licensure validation and equivalency evaluation may be required.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive peri-anesthesia nursing care across Pre-anesthesia, Phase I, Phase II, and extended care.
• Assess patients and prepare them for procedures; monitor and respond to sedation and anesthesia-related needs.
• Administer medications per policies; document care in the electronic health record.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to improve patient outcomes and ensure safety.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or related field with BSN

RN license in United States

Job description

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Iowa City Health Care System is currently recruiting for a Post Anesthesia Care Registered Nurse. Nurse guides Veterans through the peri-anesthesia journey-assessing - intervening - and educating to restore stability and comfort.

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.org/ViewQuestionnaire/13094671
• 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 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: Post anesthesia and/or critical care experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or 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 evalation or examination.

Duties

• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Provides specialized care in assessment - planning - implementation - and evaluation across the peri-anesthesia continuum (Pre-anesthesia - Post-anesthesia Phase I - Post-anesthesia Phase II - and extended care)
• Assesses and prepares patients for procedures
• performs clinical assessment and recognizes contraindications for anesthesia and/or surgical intervention
• Applies appropriate post-sedation scoring
• assesses postoperative status including cardiovascular and respiratory systems and airway management needs - neurological system - hemodynamic stability - pain - comfort needs - and mental status
• implements interventions to maintain or return systems to baseline or above
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes
• Maintains knowledge of current American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives - and service-level standard operating procedures
• Ensures comprehensive documentation of all phases of care that is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• Actively participates in unit/program-level quality improvement processes and customer service programs
• Follows Life Safety Management procedures
• reports safety hazards - accidents - and injuries
• demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention - including hand washing - standard precautions - isolation procedures - and tuberculosis requirements/precautions
• 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 - 11:00 am-7:30 pm - no weekends or holidays
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.