Registered Nurse - Surgical Care - Float Pool

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN at the University Drive Campus in Pittsburgh, PA.

The role spans Same Day Procedure, Ambulatory Surgery, IMPACT Clinic, and Interventional Radiology, with cross-coverage across vascular, wound, orthopedics, and general surgery services. Candidates must hold a nursing degree, be licensed in the U.S., and demonstrate strong English proficiency.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of a nursing program approved by ACEN or CCNE.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN licensure in the U.S. or District of Columbia.
• May be eligible for temporary appointment while pursuing licensure if in bridge programs.
• Foreign nursing graduates require degree equivalency validation.
• State license and eligibility for permanent appointment after licensure.
• VA qualification standards may apply.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based nursing care across clinics and units.
• Perform surgical clinic documentation in CPRS.
• Conduct pre-/post-operative education and discharge planning.
• Collect specimens with proper labeling and documentation.
• Maintain sterile field and assist with procedures in RMD, imaging, and IR clinics.
• Document thoroughly in CPRS and coordinate with interdisciplinary team.
• Support pre-op, intra-op, and post-op activities across service lines.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

RN multitask capability

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Nursing Diploma/ADN

Tools

CPRS

JLV

Electronic Health Records

Job description

Summary

This is a Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN position located at University Drive Campus in Pittsburgh - PA. RNs rotate through the Same Day Procedure/Ambulatory Surgery Unit - Surgical Clinics - Interdisciplinary Medical Preoperative Assessment - Consultation Treatment (IMPACT) Clinic - and Interventional Radiology (IR). RN must possess a broad knowledge base to include but not limited to Vascular - Wound - Podiatry - Ortho - Plastics - Urology - General Surgery - ENT - Neurosurgery - and IR patients.

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/13057007
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment
• A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Duties

• The Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• Surgical Clinics: Performs surgical clinic documentation in CPRS
• Reviews patient charts to verify appropriate testing has been completed prior to clinic visit
• Provides pre and post clinic visit teaching - including peri-operative education as appropriate
• Obtains various specimen collections - ensuring proper specimen labeling
• Maintains understanding of correct site protocol and participates in the time-out process
• Performs correct handling of non-critical - semi-critical and critical RMD in various clinics
• Maintains current Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) competencies for all pieces of RMD handled
• Sets up clinic rooms as needed for clinic procedures - aware of steps taken to ensure a sterile field
• Assists in staple/sutures/cast removal - dressing changes - and other various clinic procedures
• Performs post spine clinic visit call to ensure patients are following the plan of care
• Performs removal of acupuncture needles
• Performs Battlefield acupuncture
• Facilitates Virtual Pre-op Ortho Joint Education class
• Performs cerumen irrigation in the RN Cerumen Irrigation Clinic
• Maintains knowledge of the medical supplies required to efficiently and effectively run clinics
• Maintains cleanly and appropriate par level of medical supplies in each clinic area - ensuring no outdated supplies are present
• Same Day Procedure Unit and Ambulatory Surgery Unit: Provides preoperative/procedural care - including the starting of intravenous fluids - venipuncture - assisting with pre-anesthesia treatment options (i.e peripheral nerve blocks - spinal anesthesia) - assuring all lab work and other pre-operative/procedural testing is completed and communicated to team members - confirms surgical sites are prepared and marked - and administers medications as ordered
• Monitors postoperative patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation
• Closely observes for side effects of anesthesia medications
• Effectively communicates with all members of the anesthesia and procedural/surgical team
• Provides clear and concise preoperative teaching and prepares and reviews discharge instructions with Veterans and families
• Performs timely - complete - and accurate documentation in CPRS
• Interdisciplinary Medical Preoperative Assessment Consultation and Treatment (IMPACT) Clinic: Completes patient evaluations and assessments as face-to-face or telephone evaluations
• Obtains specimens - ensuring proper labeling of specimens
• Performs comprehensive Veteran education related to pre-op instructions - including - but not limited to medication instructions - chlorhexidine skin treatment - and prevention of surgical site infection
• Performs timely - complete - and accurate documentation in CPRS
• Utilizes all aspects of the electronic health record - including CPRS and the Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to perform accurate medication reconciliations
• Interventional Radiology: Performs and documents pre-procedure check-in - vital signs - IV insertion - pre-procedure medication administration - patient education - and verification of orders
• Monitors postprocedural patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation
• Closely observes for signs of side effects of procedure medications
• Effectively communicates with all members of the procedural team
• Monitors patients and VS/cardiac rhythm for MRI pacer/defibrillator procedures
• Completes discharge instructions and performs clear and concise discharge education with Veterans and families
• Performs timely - complete - and accurate documentation in CPRS
• Preferred Experience: BSN
• 5 years of medical-surgical nursing practice
• Telemetry
• ACLS Certification
• 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
• 0600-1830 - 0600-1430 - 0700-1930 - 0700-1530 - 0730-1600 - 0800-1630 - 1500-2330 - 1900-0730 - 2300-0730 Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized