Job description

FULL TIME REGISTERED NURSES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT NEEDED
ALL SPECIALTIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY !!!!

This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. The incumbent must be poised and articulate in communicating with people of varied educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds. Willing to work cooperatively as a member of a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) in all assignments. Makes caring for the Veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrates customer service principles in all aspects of work. Self-motivated in the pursuit if meeting professional work standards. Basic Life Support (BLS)required.

RN Intensive Care Unit: The Staff Nurse provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients and families in a nursing care unit/area. He/she is accountable for adhering to established policies, standards of care and standards of practice. The staff nurse demonstrates leadership when providing and improving patient care. The incumbent reports directly to the Nurse Manager of the patient care unit/area. The staff nurse serves as a role model when functioning as team leader or charge nurse under the supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee. Duties will be primarily performed in the Intensive Care Unit setting, however re-assignment may be required based on patient care needs.

Pay: Starting pay is set at $49.48 an hour (includes SCA wage)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
Work Schedule: To be determine, will be discussed at interview.
Work Location: VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX. 77030

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications: Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• 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.

EDUCATION: Graduate from a professional school of nursing accredited by one of the following at the point of graduation is required:
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN); or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education(CCNE)
OR
a graduate of a foreign school of professional nursing.

• Note: The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission/NLNAC changed its name to ACEN in May 2013; ACEN's website may be utilized to verify accredited programs using automated inquiry processes; however, for verification of any nursing program's accreditation prior to 1998, an automated inquiry cannot be used and ACEN must be contacted directly.
• ACEN or CCNE Accreditation - Candidates meeting the basic education requirement of graduation from an ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing program must be considered before consideration of a deviation to the basic accreditation requirement.
• Nursing Bridge Program (must be appropriately accredited): A masters-level nursing accelerated nursing education program: The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. A copy of the MSN transcript must be provided to VA. Bridge programs that confer a master's degree also fully meet the education requirement, even though a Bachelor's Degree is not awarded.
• Foreign Nursing Education.
• Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who, possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration, will meet the education requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree/entry level Nursing education program.
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher than the associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency accepted by VA such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).

Preferred Experience: Critical Care

Grade Determinations:
The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to aa Nurse 1, Level 1; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and 2 yeas of professional nursing practice, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 2; OR a BSN with 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related filed with a Bachelors degree in nursing with no professional nursing experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is a year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in nursing with 1 year of nursing experience equivalent to a Nurse 1, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse 1, Level 3. OR Doctorate degree in nursing and no professional nursing experience OR a Doctorate degree in a related field with a MSN or BSN and no professional experience.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR Master's degree in a related field with a BSN 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 Doctorate degree in Nursing and 1 year of specialized care which is equivalent to a Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR Doctorate degree in a related field with a MSN or BSN and 1 Year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to a Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

• Nurse IV - Master's degree in nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Master's degree in a related field and BSN with 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctorate degree in Nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctorate degree in a related field and 3 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV.
• Nurse V - Master's degree in nursing and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR Master's degree in a related field and BSN with 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctorate degree in Nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctorate degree in a related field and 4 years of professional nursing experience which is equivalent to a Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The position requires the incumbent to have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The incumbent must be mature, flexible, and sensible, capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. This position requires limited periods of standing, stooping, bending, pulling, pushing, walking, and be able to lift up to 35 pounds. Transferring patients and objects may be required. This position also requires sitting for long periods typing on computer keyboard, looking at computer monitor, and using the telephone. The incumbent maybe exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials requiring the incumbent to don protective clothing and equipment in isolation situations or during invasive patient procedures. The incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative or aggressive related to neurologic or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must meet the required screening/testing and be medically cleared by Employee Occupational Health as a condition of employment.

Education

IMPORTANT:
A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your
transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/off ices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: From $49.48 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week
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