Registered Nurse (Ambulatory Infusion Center)

The public

U. S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U. S.

Clarification from the agency

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

Duties

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

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties include, but are not limited to

This nurse provides patient care, care coordination, health promotion, health education, and coaching on wellness, disease prevention, and chronic care management. Collaborates in the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and/or guidelines. Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for specialty care outpatients.

Specialty care program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility.

• Care and management of the Oncology and Hematology patients, which consist of 90% of the total patients served in the AIC. This includes, but is not limited to, infusion of chemotherapeutic agents, as well as the pre- and post-infusion regimens ordered.

• Provides visual monitoring of the patient during the administration of the infusion therapy.

• Provides care for the Nurse Treatment Clinic, which is comprised of referrals for acute interventions such as wound care, venous access device care, and dressing changes.

• Ability to apply the Nursing Process and effectively use the Nursing Diagnoses for the assessment and treatment of pain and other problems that may be physical, psychosocial, and spiritual.

• Obtains patient histories. Takes and records various readings such as heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, height and weight, body temperature, and mental status.

• Obtains and synthesizes laboratory results before and/or after the administration of infusion therapies.- Collects samples from patients, including blood and urine.

• Administers medications by mouth, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections as ordered by the physicians.

• Adapts to fast-paced workflow, works under pressure, with a high daily volume of patients.

• Works in partnership with the health care providers, primarily oncology and hematology, in the delivery of comprehensive outpatient care/services to the patients.

• Functions as an integral member of the Clinic Interdisciplinary Team and is responsible for accurate clinical assessments and triage.

• Provides patient and family teaching on chemotherapy, side effects, regimens, radiation therapy and side effects, as well as general medical health education.

• Adapts Katharine Kolcaba's Comfort Theory. Ability to integrate the three concepts of the theory: relief, ease, and transcendence.

• Adapts Kübler-Ross model of coping and dying: Ability to integrate the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance

• Adapts the concept of Palliative Care. Ability to integrate an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering.

• Works closely with the Nurse Manager to determine patient care and Clinic needs.

• Functions as a team leader and directs and supervises LVNs and support staff as needed.

• Continually analyzes and evaluates clinic functions and activities in order to improve care/services to patients utilizing the principles of Advanced Clinic Access (ACA).

• Supports evidence-based practices in the AIC and Ambulatory Care Clinic (ACC), and supports unit-based research projects as appropriate. Assists in orientation and education of the staff.

• Documents nursing interventions/ actions using VISTA/ CPRS.

• Manages resources in a variety of settings to meet patient care needs and ensure quality care.

• Orders and accounts for medical supply stock. Orders chemotherapy administration supplies.

• Consults with other medical personnel and may provide expert information about chemotherapy, side effects, etc.

• Ability to be cross-trained and float to Ambulatory Care Specialty Clinics as needed.

• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

• BLS certification.

• Preferred: Minimum one (1) year of full-time experience administering Chemotherapy and immunotherapy infusion.

• Preferred: Current Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Provider Card certification.

• Other duties as assigned.

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 U. S. state or territory

Work

Schedule

M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 pm or as determined by the supervisor.

Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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.

• Subject to background/security investigation.

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

• You may be required to serve a probationary period.

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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 the 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 a 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/13041798.

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…