Registered Nurse- Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Fredericksburg HCC)

The Registered Nurse- Pre-Operative And Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Fredericksburg HCC) positions are located at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Please learn more about the position below, along with the duties.

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.

Note: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are required for this position.


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/12968987.

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/.

Preferred Experience:
-Minimum of two (2) years of current experience in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that provides critical care-level services.
-Demonstrated competency in managing patients across the perioperative continuum, including Phase I (immediate post-anesthesia), Phase II (recovery), and extended care settings.
-Strong clinical skills in airway management, hemodynamic monitoring, pain control, and post-anesthesia recovery.
-Experience caring for a wide range of surgical and procedural patient populations.
-Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credentials preferred.


Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting, prolonged standing, sitting, frequent bending, stooping, walking, reaching, repetitive motion, and climbing stairs. The mental/sensory requirements include logical thinking, processing and retaining information, reading, recall, reasoning, complex problem solving, hearing, clear distinct speech, writing, keyboarding, use of a telephone, and use of video connectivity

Responsibilities:

The Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse is a professional registered nurse (RN) responsible for all aspects of the nursing process in delivering and supervising direct patient care. Adhering to established policies and standards of practice, this nurse demonstrates leadership in improving patient care and serves as a role model for clinical excellence. Reporting directly to the Perioperative Nurse Manager, the incumbent manages complex situations in a self-directed manner, coordinates care with a focus on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence positive patient outcomes. Medications and procedures are administered according to guidelines and facility policies.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

-Provides comprehensive nursing care during the pre-operative period as well as Phase I and Phase II post-anesthesia recovery.

-Administers prescribed medications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) drugs and anticoagulants, as ordered by anesthesia or surgical providers, utilizing all necessary safety precautions.

-Responds effectively during resuscitation situations, safely participating in code blue or rapid response events.

-Demonstrates clinical competency regarding the effects of anesthesia and provides appropriate interventions, escalating concerns in a timely and effective manner.

-Transduces pressure lines, when necessary, in emergent situations and accurately evaluates hemodynamic parameters.

-Manages thermoregulation, cardiac, and hemodynamic status of patients throughout the perioperative and recovery periods.

-Performs tasks independently or seeks assistance when appropriate; skills include but are not limited to: phlebotomy, peripheral IV insertion, performing and interpreting 12-lead ECG, administering blood transfusions, and urinary catheter placement.

-Demonstrates working knowledge of a wide range of surgical procedures, including General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Urology, Orthopedics, and Podiatry, to effectively reinforce preoperative and preprocedural patient education.

-Reviews discharge instructions and educational materials with the patient and their caregivers, ensuring understanding and compliance.

-Functions independently in patient care, guided by patient assessment and established discharge criteria, with periodic oversight by the Charge Nurse.

-Maintains current certification in Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

-Performs other related duties as assigned.



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 through Friday, 6am-6:30pm/varied tours.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives/Expenses: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $82,309