Summary

North Florida/South Georgia VHS is a level 1a complex facility performing surgical procedures in the following specialties: Cardiac - ENT - General - Ophthalmology - GYN - Plastic - Orthopedic - Urology - Robotic - Thoracic - Vascular and Endovascular.

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/12857216
• 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 immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Minimum of two years recent OR experience as an RN required with in the last 3 years
• Ability to scrub and circulate preferred Possess physical ability to stand for long periods of time - frequent moving and lifting of patients and equipment required BLS Certification by the AHA at the start of employment at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System required ACLS AHA PREFERRED Ability to provide on-call coverage (nights and weekends) required (30minute arrival response required) Bachelors in Nursing preferred CNOR preferred Documented excellent interpersonal relationship skills with demonstrated ability to work with multidisciplinary groups effectively Clinical competency documented in prior nursing assignments Demonstrated exceptional ability to make critical decisions in stressful environments Demonstrated dependability and flexibility

Duties

• The incumbent will practice as a registered nurse and must demonstrate and maintain competencies required for all processes - procedures - and equipment used in the Operating Room Suite
• The incumbent must have the technical and operational expertise and clinical skills to function as a circulating nurse in all the above services
• She/he must demonstrate a variety of specialized diagnostic and treatment procedure and will be accountable for promoting patient safety - continuity of care and the general well-being of the patient
• She/he will collaborate with physicians and ancillary services to provide the highest level of care
• will analyze and upgrade patient care through quality improvement activities
• She/he must strive to maintain all clinical competencies through continuous study - in-services - and participation in continuing education units
• Based on level of education and experience - the incumbent may be assigned preceptor/mentor responsibilities
• The clinical responsibilities for registered nurses in the Operating Room Suite include but are not limited to the following: The Perioperative nurse is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from nursing care provided during the perioperative experience
• A perioperative registered nurse functioning in the circulating role must plan and direct the nursing care of every patient undergoing surgical and/or other invasive procedures - thus requiring a 1:1 perioperative nurse: patient ratio
• The Circulating nurse responsible for completing all Operative Documentation - i.e
• Vista intraoperative record - Surgical Time Out and safety checks
• She/he also ensures proper documentation and accountability of surgical specimens
• The Operating Room nurse must demonstrate expertise - in the circulating nurse capacity - in a minimum of one surgical specialty - and demonstrate minimal competency in all other surgical specialties performed at the NF/SG VA Medical Center by the following: Demonstrating competency in pre-op assessment of the surgical patient - which includes actively acting as the patient's advocate when it comes to assessing the patient's understanding of surgical consent and procedures they are about to undergo
• assessing that the patient has followed all pre-operative instructions - such as NPO status - halting of anticoagulation medication - etc
• Ensuring all instruments - supplies - and equipment are present and functional before the surgical procedure
• ensuring sterility of all surgical instruments
• ensuring count of surgical instruments and specialty equipment occurs prior to and following the procedure to ensure all instruments are accounted for prior to the patient leaving the Operating Room Suite
• performing proper surgical Time Out prior to incision for all procedures
• and when pertinent - performs fire safety time out prior to start of procedure
• Maintaining cleanliness and order in the Operating Room Suite
• protecting the sterile field by monitoring for breaches in sterile technique
• limiting traffic in the Operating Room Suite and around the surgical field
• assisting the Surgeons during procedures and coordinating with Surgical Technicians
• ensuring post-operative pre-cleaning of instruments and safe transport to Sterile Processing
• 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: 7:30 am -6:00 pm Monday- Friday (40 Hours a week - Rotating day off and additional call responsibility off tour up to and including weekends and holidays) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized