Registered Nurse - Acute Care Inpatient

Location: Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI – Acute Care Inpatient Nursing Division (4C).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English language proficiency in basic written and spoken English (38 U.S.C. 7403(f)).
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of program completion.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

Alternative pathways:

• Individuals in a master’s level bridge program who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree may be appointed temporarily pending licensure and graduation.
• Graduates of foreign nursing schools may qualify with a current, unrestricted license and a formal degree equivalency validation (e.g., International Consultants of Delaware).
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) exception: candidates meeting education requirements but lacking licensure may receive a 120‑day temporary appointment, extendable up to two years while pursuing licensure.
• Grandfathering provision: current VHA employees in the 0610 series performing the described duties as of 1/29/2024 meet all qualification requirements.

Grade and level criteria (selected examples):

• Nurse I – Level I: Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing; no additional experience required.
• Nurse I – Level II: ADN/Diploma + 1 year specialized nursing experience, or BSN with no additional experience.
• Nurse I – Level III: ADN/Diploma + 2 years experience (1 year equivalent to Level II) or BSN + 1 year experience or MSN with no additional experience.
• Nurse II: BSN + 2 years experience (equivalent to Nurse I – Level III) or MSN + 1 year specialized experience, etc.
• Nurse III: MSN + 2 years specialized experience (including one year equivalent to Nurse II), or comparable doctoral qualifications.

Preferred Experience:

• Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) training certificate completed within one year of hire.

Reference: VA Qualification Standards

Duties

• Provide direct and supervise quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population of varying complexity.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age‑specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self‑management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines.
• Influence care outcomes by collaborating with interdisciplinary team members.
• Communicate courteously with internal and external customers.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient and employee information in electronic, verbal, and written forms.
• Work safely, including infection control and proper operation of equipment.
• Utilize nursing research, evidence‑based practice, and literature in daily practice.
• Provide care appropriate to the biopsychosocial needs of the population served.
• Meet practice requirements for Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements

The RN must possess the physical, mental, and emotional capacity to perform duties under normal and emergent conditions, ensuring safety for self and others.

Pay

Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential for performance awards.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Up to 50 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 federal holidays).
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5‑year vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5 % VA contributions.
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long‑term care coverage (many programs portable into retirement).
• Licensure: Requires one full, unrestricted license from any U.S. State or territory.

Schedule

• Work Schedule: Variable tours (to be discussed during interview).
• Telework: Not available.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.