The Bedford VA Healthcare System is seeking a Registered Nurse for Specialty Clinics to primarily support the Gynecology clinic with cross coverage to some of the other specialty clinics within the service line as needed. This position is full-time 40 hours per week. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: Experience in Women's Health preferred to include gynecology or similar role. Minimum 2 years Registered Nurse experience. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position may require visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Registered Nurse uses the nursing process to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the patients treated in the Gynecology and other outpatient specialty clinics within the Specialty and Acute Care service line. The Specialty and Acute service line consists of several Outpatient specialty clinics to include: gynecology, pain, neurology, dental, allergy, infusion, urgent care, optometry, podiatry, environmental health, and employee occupational health. The RN will not support all of these areas but a select few. The Specialty Clinic Nurse demonstrates the ability to work effectively as a team member to provide quality patient care and outcomes within the VA Healthcare System and the community. Strong communication, critical thinking, and clinical assessment skills are essential. The Specialty Clinic Nurse must embrace and support a culture of learning and growth through education and participation in unit or hospital initiatives, committees and QI projects. The RN will provide safe, prompt, and skillful nursing care for a variety of patients in collaboration with the health care team. The nurse will be responsible for supporting the Gynecology clinic, assisting the gynecologist with but not limited to the following: Setting up the clinic and coordinating with the provider in advance on scheduled procedures. Performing patient intakes to include vital signs, pregnancy HCG testing, and documentation. Performing time-outs for procedures. Provide age, gender, and cultural appropriate care. Ensuring all necessary materials are available prior to start of clinic, this includes reusable medical instruments. Demonstrate proficiency with the handling of reusable medical instruments and the sterile supply cabinet. Maintaining Infection Control standards per facility protocol to include specimen collection, handling and proper disposal of biohazardous material. Cleaning of exam room, to include exam tables, surfaces, light sources between each patient. Assisting the gynecologist with vaginal and breast exams, pap smears, STD testing, pessary fittings, colposcopies, Leeps, biopsies, birth control and other gynecology/women's health duties. Restocking the clinic and ordering of supplies as needed. Collaborating with the administrative team with patient scheduling, following up with Veterans, reviewing consults, and secure messaging. Assist the Women's Health Navigator by managing a small case load of Veterans with mammography, pap tracking and other test results. The nurse will provide support to Specialty Clinics when not assisting Gynecology/Women's Health Navigator duties with but not limited to: Maintain clinical competency in assigned but not all Specialty Clinic areas. Completes initial assessments, interventions, and reassessment on assigned patients. Utilize or become familiar with the Emergency Severity Index (ESI). Perform patient intakes and document vital signs, assessment, and interventions in the EHR per policy. Perform time-out procedures. Implement clinical and technical aspects of care in accordance with the established policies, procedures, safety and infection control standards, and scope of practice. Perform procedures, treatments, and medication administration. Demonstrate ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize workflow and patient load to optimize patient outcomes. Reviewing orders, consults, and responding to secure messaging. Assist with other specialty clinic tasks as needed. 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, 7:30 am-4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notification: This position is in the Excepted Service. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments based on the candidate's education and experience. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position."]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.