Registered Nurse - Primary Care

Diversity Group; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Medical Center Nashville seeks a registered nurse to provide direct patient care in a busy outpatient/acute setting. The RN will collaborate with physicians, supervise assistive staff, and ensure adherence to infection control and safety protocols.

Applicants must hold an active U.S. nursing license, with various pathways for bridge programs, and meet VA qualification standards. External candidates should prepare for potential temporary appointments with future permanent placement possible.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required.
• Nurse must have an active, unrestricted U.S. license.
• Eligible for licensure via bridge/master programs as applicable.
• Foreign-educated nurses need degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to adult patients.
• Collaborate with physicians and other health care professionals.
• Direct non-professional staff in patient care tasks.
• Maintain infection control and patient safety standards.

Skills

English proficiency

Nurse licensure

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing

Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

State nursing license (active)

Job description

Summary

This position is located in the Primary Care Clinic at the International Plaza Outpatient Clinic in Nashville - TN.

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/13073242
• 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: You must be able to perform work that requires regular and recurrent bending - lifting 30 pounds or more - stooping - climbing - twisting and/or bending - standing and/or walking almost constantly during the course of the day - reaching above the shoulder - stretching - and similar activities supporting various weights
• walking and standing for 8 hours
• frequent pushing medication carts - wheelchairs - litters - beds
• use of fingers - both hands and both legs
• emotional stability (you must be able to care for Veterans with various medical and psychiatric illnesses who at times may exhibit unpredictable behavior and may have the potential to be physically or verbally assaultive)
• near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" / far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other / both eyes required with ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing aid permitted in order to sufficiently hear various alarms and respond immediately

Duties

• RN Pay Scale NG57 Note to VA Employees: Grades and steps will be unaffected by this change but could result in a change to your current salary due to different pay scales
• The specific patient population to whom direct care is provided includes adults with a variety of different conditions
• The incumbent must also be able to direct non professional staff's lifting - moving - and/or transferring of patients - and use equipment to provide patient care which usually involves lifting and/or pushing the equipment
• The RN is responsible for the storage - proper cleaning techniques - and use of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• He/She is responsible for carrying out proper procedures for caring for patients in an isolation environment by following proper infection control procedures
• Communicates regularly with nurse managers - physicians - nursing supervisors - charge nurses - transfer coordinators - allied healthcare staff - healthcare technicians - Pharmacy - and the business office.The RN's role will include - but is not limited to the following duties: Establishing nursing diagnoses
• Providing health education and procedural teaching to patients and significant others
• Administering and evaluating pharmacological and other therapeutic treatment regimens
• Administering medicine Administering Injections - Vaccines etc
• Establishing priorities and making ethically-sound decisions to ensure safe patient care
• Assisting the physicians during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to promote optimal patient outcomes by team collaboration
• Responding to emergency situations to promote optimal patient outcomes by recognizing changes in patients' health status
• Performing diagnostic studies within the scope of nursing practice as ordered by the physician
• Documenting patient data to ensure continuity in the provision and coordination of patient care
• Collaborating with other health care professionals
• Communicating with veterans ad family members regarding veteran's care
• May be responsible for charge nurse duties Managing follow-up care
• Acting as resource to others
• Participating in continuing educational activities - achieving/maintaining certification
• Possess knowledge of unit level performance measures and participates in quality improvement monitoring Additional duties as assigned Preferred Experience: 2 years Acute Care experience and/or Ambulatory Experience 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: Day Shift - Monday-Friday Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required