Registered Nurse - Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) - Surgical Intensive Care Unit/Stepdown Unit (SICU/STPDN) provides competent, evidence-based nursing care to Veterans with acute, complex, and critical care needs. The RN applies the nursing process, clinical judgment, and knowledge of pathophysiology and critical care concepts to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care.

Learn more about this agency

This job is open to

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

The RN demonstrates professional nursing practice consistent with established standards of care, VA policies and procedures, evidence-based practice, and the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice and Code of Ethics. The position requires flexibility in assignments and scheduling to meet the needs of a 24/7 acute care environment.

The Registered Nurse - Surgical Intensive Care Unit/Stepdown Unit performs duties that include, but are not limited to:

• Provides safe, competent, evidence-based nursing care to Veterans with acute, complex, and critical care needs in the SICU/Stepdown environment.

• Performs comprehensive physical, physiological, and psychosocial nursing assessments and identifies actual or potential patient care needs.

• Develops, implements, and evaluates individualized plans of care using the nursing process and sound clinical judgment.

• Recognizes changes in patient condition, establishes priorities, and initiates appropriate nursing interventions based on clinical acuity and patient needs.

• Administers medications, treatments, and therapeutic interventions as prescribed by authorized providers and evaluates the patient's response to care.

• Organizes and completes assigned patient care responsibilities safely and within established timeframes while adapting priorities to changes in patient condition.

• Participates in the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of interdisciplinary plans of care.

• Establishes therapeutic relationships with Veterans and incorporates patient preferences, values, beliefs, developmental needs, and cultural considerations into care.

• Provides patient and family education, counseling, and health promotion to support informed decision-making and optimal health outcomes.

• Communicates and collaborates effectively with physicians, nurses, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to coordinate patient care.

• Delegates nursing activities appropriately and provides oversight to licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, and other nursing personnel consistent with scope of practice and competency.

• Assists with nursing education, orientation, competency development, and precepting of staff as appropriate.

• Demonstrates progression in leadership responsibilities, including sharing clinical knowledge, supporting teamwork, and serving as a resource to other staff.

• Applies evidence-based practice and current nursing knowledge to improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient care.

• Participates in unit-based performance improvement, patient safety, shared governance, and other quality improvement activities.

• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation of assessments, interventions, patient responses, and other required information in the electronic health record.

• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality and safeguards protected health information in accordance with applicable Federal laws, VA policies, and information security requirements.

• Adheres to infection prevention and control practices, including hand hygiene, standard precautions, isolation procedures, and other measures designed to prevent transmission of infection.

• Promotes a culture of safety by identifying and reporting hazards, incidents, injuries, and changes in patient condition and taking appropriate corrective action within the scope of practice.

• Maintains required education, training, and clinical competencies, including Basic Life Support (BLS) and other life-support certification requirements applicable to the assigned clinical area.

• Maintains readiness for accreditation and regulatory surveys by complying with applicable standards, policies, procedures, and documentation requirements.

• Demonstrates professional, respectful, and non-discriminatory care and communication with Veterans, families, visitors, colleagues, and other customers.

• Performs other duties and accepts additional assignments as necessary to support patient care and operational needs of the unit.

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

Tour of duty varies, and is to be determined by supervisor.

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

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 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/13048315.

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…