Registered Nurse-Specialty Care (Outpatient)

About the Role

The Registered Nurse in the Specialty department provides peri-procedural care for sedated and non-sedated procedures within Gastroenterology, Urology, Podiatry, and Hepatology at the Greenville Health Care Center, serving the Veteran population.

Duties

• Monitoring and sedating patients for GI Procedures, guided by the Moderate Sedation policy MCM 558-01-5.8 (pre, intra, and post procedure)
• Assisting physicians with the technical aspects of endoscopic procedures within the endoscopy unit, in addition to specialty procedures for Podiatry and Urology
• Preparing patients scheduled for endoscopic or biopsy procedures, as well as those for Podiatry and Urology
• Monitoring the technicians and other support personnel related to safe patient care
• Communicating with patients by telephone triage, secure messaging, or Annie App (text application)
• Participating in conferences and awareness events for GI and Liver cancers, minor podiatry and urology procedures
• Scheduling appointments for procedures for the providers
• Knowledge and proficiency with sterile technique and instrumentation usage for procedures associated with GI, podiatry, and urology procedures

Basic Requirements

• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time the program was completed
• Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may be appointed on a temporary basis upon achieving a State license, and later converted to permanent upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• For graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing: possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration meets the requirement for graduation from an approved school. Credit for foreign nursing education higher than associate degree/entry level requires 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 (e.g., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet basic education requirements but do not possess 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)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing duties as described in the qualification standard on 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 grade assignment. 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/13000045

• Nurse I - Level I: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. Requires an Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing with no additional professional nursing experience.
• Nurse I - Level II: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex needs. Requires 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.
• Nurse I - Level III: Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. Requires an ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience with one year equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) with 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. Requires a BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience 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. Requires an 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 a 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 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: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting, and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required; mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials; may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance (many programs can be carried into retirement)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8-hour tours between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM to meet patient demands. Telework is not available. This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) are not authorized.