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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Registered Nurse (CCU-MICU-SICU) Near Birmingham, AL

Qualifications:

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.

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: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. This position requires visual acuity (glasses permitted), keen hearing (hearing aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, lifting, carrying, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. Use of rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. 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.

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN AND CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This announcement will remain open until September 30, 2024 (or when positions filled). The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be October 13, 2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals, every Friday, or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions filled.

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

The Birmingham VA Medical Center is actively seeking Registered Nurses who possess good organizational skills which enable completion of work, a demonstrated ability to assume leadership in a patient centered program, and the ability to establish effective communication with patients, families, visitors and members of the interdisciplinary team to work within our Intensive Care Units (CCU, MICU, and SICU). The ICU RN must be ACLS certified and be able to respond to life threatening arrhythmias and emergency events effectively. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.
• Assess, plans, implements and evaluates care based on age-specific components.
• Assume responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of patient care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction.
• Administer medications and treatment procedures per established policies and guidelines.
• Consider all characteristics of the individual, including sex and sex role identification, age and life stage, state of health, race and culture, socio-economic status, values and previous experience with similar events, in order to assist each patient to identify and meet basic health needs and improve his/her health status to the individual's maximum.
• Demonstrate knowledge of VA policies, procedures and clinical protocols.
• Influence outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Core elements of performance includes knowledge and active participation in unit / program level quality improvement processes, initiatives, and customer service.
• Take initiative in developing and evaluating unit level and/or disease specific to standards of care, policies, procedures and nursing programs that guide nursing practice and/or measure performance.
• Complete all required education in prescribed timelines, including Talent Management, recertification and continuing education.
• Responsible for ensuring his/her actions contribute to a mode of continued accreditation readiness regarding Joint Commission (TJC), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), VA surveyors, Laboratory College of American Pathologists (CAP), and other survey teams.
• Consistently protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws, federal regulations, statues and policy, and VHA policy.

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: Day, Evening and Night Tours available. Selectee's specific tour will be determined by Supervisor/Manager upon hire, and will be based on the needs of the unit. May be required to work weekends, holidays, and during the week, but must be able to change schedule to accommodate the needs of the service.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact TammyR.Coates@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary