Registered Nurse - Perioperative

The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The Registered Nurse - Perioperative position is in Nursing service at the White River Junction Healthcare System, located at the WRJ location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

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/12936121.

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:

• 3-5 Years of Post Anesthesia Care, Critical Care, Conscious Sedation, ACLS and BLS
• BSN

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Responsibilities:

Included but are not limited to:

• Serves as a key team member by supporting patients and providers through varied clinical and administrative duties, such as, patient assessments, bedside care, telephone visits, and data collection;
• Reviews procedural schedule in advance, identifies and corrects scheduling concerns, performs in-depth chart reviews and applies nursing process to ensure patients are prepared for upcoming procedures;
• Administers moderate sedation for endoscopy procedures in procedural suite, operating room and interventional radiology;
• Assist with general clinic and procedure duties which may include turnover of rooms, stocking supplies, transportation of scopes, and other duties as assigned;
• Recognizes ethical problems, advocates for patient preferences, and serves as a resource and/or consultant to patients, families, or staff and other health care providers on ethical issues;
• Participates in projects such as those working toward performance and quality improvement, lends expertise to nursing practice committees and councils, and assists in precepting staff new to the unit;
• Safeguards patient privacy and maintains confidentiality of patient information;
• Appropriately prepare patients for surgical procedure;
• Closely monitor and document patients' vital signs and level of consciousness;
• Airway management. Assess airway patency, manage potential complications from anesthesia, ensure proper positioning to maintain optimal respiratory function;
• Pain assessment and management. Evaluate post-operative pain using appropriate pain scales, administer prescribed pain medications, and monitor for effectiveness;
• Assess for common post-operative complications such as bleeding, nausea/vomiting, hypothermia, and emergence delirium;
• Medication administration/management. Safely administer prescribed medications, including analgesics, antiemetics, and other post-operative medications;
• Regularly inspect surgical sites for bleeding, infection, or other complications;
• Provide updates to family members regarding patient progress, explain post-operative care instructions, and address concerns;
• Documentation and Handoff communication - Maintain detailed records of patient care, assessments, interventions, and responses;
• Emergency response and readiness - Maintain competency in emergency procedures, recognize signs of deterioration, and respond quickly to critical situations;
• Equipment management and safety - Ensure all monitoring equipment is functioning properly, maintain a clean and safe environment, follow infection control protocols;
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8 or 10 hour shifts available, no weekends, no holidays, no on-call.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• This is a Bargaining Unit Position.
• This is a position are in the Excepted Service
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by a special rate.

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

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Salary : $79,295