What are the responsibilities and job description for the Registered Nurse - Operating Room position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is seeking a Full-Time Registered Nurse to join their Operating Room staff - aligned under Surgery Services.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
The Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center is seeking a Full-Time Registered Nurse to join their Operating Room staff - aligned under Surgery Services.
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/12933376
- 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
- Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of experience as an Operating Room Nurse
- Preferred scrub nurse experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with inpatient care - including bending - grasping - kneeling - performing moderation lifting - carrying tasks of up to 35 pounds per the Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) guidelines and using an appropriate mechanical lift
- Candidate must possess the ability to pivot their waist and neck - push and pull items not greater than 35 pounds and reach within a five-foot distance or above shoulder height
- The position requires sitting - squatting - standing - walking and twisting - alongside wrist flexion and extension
- Employees are expected to employ proper body mechanics during lifting
- Requires adequate vision to accurately perform the assigned duties - distinguish basic colors and assess patients and the environment safely
- The position requires the ability to hear at a level to perform the assigned duties - and the use of hearing aids permitted
- The Perioperative Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical/invasive procedure
- Duties Include - but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
- Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age specific components
- Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
- Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
- Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
- Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
- Plans - directs - and coordinates the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures - taking into consideration respect for the individual and recognition of the important contribution that each team member makes to the patient's well being
- Functions proficiently in the circulator role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served
- Maintains knowledge of current Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives - and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Assures the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner
- Protects the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects - performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items - participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation - policy - and procedures
- Manages the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administers medications safely and correctly - performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
- Ensures comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
- Responsible for knowing what reusable instruments - equipment - medical devices - or supplies are in use in the clinical area
- Obtains - reads - and follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all reusable medical equipment (RME) in use in the clinical area and consults Sterile Processing and/or Infection Control as needed
- Is required to be on-call during off tours hours to provide patient care for emergency procedures
- Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
- Evaluates practice in an ongoing process - based on best evidence
- Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
- Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
- Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team
- Partners with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes
- Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
- Shares educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
- Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
- Participates in activities and strategies to sustain evidence-based-practice
- 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 - 7:00am-3:30pm - OR - 9:00am-5:30pm - with on call for evenings - weekends - and holidays Compressed/Flexible: 7:00am-5:30pm compressed tour with rotational day off alternately available - with on call for evenings - weekends - and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $79,106 - $135,505