Job title: Spinal Cord Injury Registered Nurse

Duration: 12 Months

Location: Milwaukee, WI 53295

This position’s starting pay is: $42.00/hr.

Work Schedule:

PM Shift (2) RNs - (12) hour shift 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., to include weekends and holidays

Night Shift (2) RNs - (12) hour shift 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 a.m., to include weekends and holidays

Overtime may be necessary and is applicable for anything over 40 hours in a one week pay period worked at the VA.

Overtime must be pre-approved by the Nurse Manager and will not be allowed for contractor staff to complete charting in the medical record.

All patient documentation must be completed prior to leaving for the day.

The 12-hour shifts include a mandatory ½ hour non-paid lunch break.

Description:

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. Registered Nurse (RN): The RN will utilize their broad-based clinical knowledge to effectively assess, implement health promotion and prevention interventions, manage acute and chronic illness states, assist patients in the attainment of optimal levels of functioning rehabilitation, evaluate patient response to actual or potential health problems, and provide supportive measures for the dying patient and their significant others.

Nursing care shall be performed in accordance with the American Nursing Association’s Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance, and within the individual nurse’s scope of license.

The VA Nurse Manager(s), or appropriate nursing leadership delegate (i.e., Assistant Nurse Manager), will provide the RN with clinical oversight during their tour of duty.

More specific duties and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse are described below.

i. Maintain patient confidentiality and a safe patient care environment, including familiarity with requirements such as medication administration, patient/family education, discharge process, hazardous waste disposal, etc., as defined by The Joint Commission and all other VA regulatory bodies.

ii. Provide patient-centered care by performing the following tasks:

• assess the health care needs of the patient and maintain or develop a plan of care to meet interdisciplinary goals

• assess and act on significant changes in the patient’s health condition

• carry out the plan of care by performing assigning delegated tasks

• collect and document pertinent data into the electronic patient medical record

• communicates and treats all patients and/or families in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner

• identify and act on predictable needs of the patient

• meet the health care needs of patient by assessing and assisting the patient to meet expressed needs • meet the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and/or families

• prioritize and complete tasks within the RN’s assigned shift

• notify assigned physician of any changes in condition and update patient care plans

• report incidents of verbal or physical abuse immediately to the Nurse Manager of the unit they are assigned; or designated off-shift nursing leadership

• perform head-to-toe assessment

• insert IV lines

• care of PICC lines

• administer medication including IVs

• coordinate and participate in admission, transfer, and discharge of patient

• measure vital signs, including Pain (the 5th Vital Sign), pulse oximetry, etc.

• complete EKG as needed

• perform wound care including dressing changes and obtaining wound cultures as necessary

• obtain and deliver specimens to lab

• perform tracheostomy care

• perform non-acute/acute ventilator care, as needed

• perform suctioning including oral, nasogastric, and tracheostomy

• assess for and administer tube feedings

• assist with routine urinary and bowel elimination including indwelling and suprapubic catheters, colostomies, external devices, and digital stimulation

• educate patients and/or families regarding health and diagnoses and medication administration

• activate the Emergency Medical Response as indicated based on patient presentation or change in condition

• respond and assist in an emergency situation

• perform Continuous Protective Observation (CPO) duties to maintain veteran safety

• perform patient belongings and Contraband inspection and documentation as outlined by facility policy

• provide clinical oversight to Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants and Health Technicians

• Rapid Response and Cardiac Arrest (code) response within the unit.

• Accu-checks

iii. Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA). BCMA with a 100% accuracy rate shall be used in the applicable areas for medication administration. BCMA is designed to provide electronic validation and documentation of medication administration, reduce medication misadventures, provide an online patient medication record, and promote a safer inpatient care environment. Spot check of patient charts or review of incident reports will be conducted. If issues are found, remedial training of contractor employee will be given. If remedial training is unsuccessful, the contractor employee may be removed from providing services under the contract.

iv. Additional requirements and responsibilities for all contract nursing staff are listed below:

• The contract nursing staff shall complete and document all assessments accurately and within assigned timeframes.

• The contract nursing staff shall complete all unit specific required training.

• The contract nursing staff shall, always, conduct themselves in a professional manner, treating patients/residents, visitors, and staff in a courteous manner. Sustained allegations of patient/resident or coworker abuse, both verbally or physically, will result in immediate removal from the Milwaukee VAMC, and will also be reported to the Contracting Officer. These incidents may result in that contractor employee not being eligible for continued contract performance.

Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills necessary to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting.
• Proficient in written and spoken English
• Proficiency in the use of the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VISTA) system and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) are preferred.
• Education:All RNs must have an Associates or Bachelor’s degree (preferred) from an ACEN or CCNE accredited Nursing program.
• Licensure/certifications: must have a current and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia and have a current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)/Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by a provider recognized by the American Heart Association. Renewal of BLS certification is the responsibility of the contractor and will not be provided by the VA.
• Experience: RNs must have a minimum of one-year SCI experience or a minimum of two-years Med/Surg experience. Ventilator experience is preferred.

About Us: Established in 2004, SPECTRAFORCE® is one of the largest and fastest-growing diversity-owned staffing firms in the US. The growth of our company is a direct result of our global client service delivery model that is powered by our state-of-the-art A.I. proprietary talent acquisition platform, robust ISO 9001:2015/ISO 27001 certified processes, and strong and passionate client engaged teams. We have built our business by providing talent and project-based solutions, including Contingent, Permanent, and Statement of Work (SOW) services to over 140 clients in the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and India. Key industries that we service include Technology, Financial Services, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Telecom, Retail, Utilities and Transportation. SPECTRAFORCE is built on a concept of “human connection,” defined by our branding attitude of NEWJOBPHORIA®, which is the excitement of bringing joy and freedom to the work lifestyle so our people and clients can reach their highest potential. Learn more at: http://www.spectraforce.com

Benefits: SPECTRAFORCE offers ACA compliant health benefits as well as dental, vision, accident, critical illness, voluntary life, and hospital indemnity insurances to eligible employees. Additional benefits offered to eligible employees include commuter benefits, 401K plan with matching, and a referral bonus program. SPECTRAFORCE provides unpaid leave as well as paid sick leave when required by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer: SPECTRAFORCE is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Please contact Human Resources at LOA@spectraforce.com if you require reasonable accommodation.

At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws.