Summary

The Outpatient Specialty Care Registered Nurse supports high-quality - patient-centered care within the Myrtle Beach VA Clinic - contributing to a collaborative and efficient specialty care environment.

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/13068316
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 2-3+ years of adult acute care/med-surg experience Outpatient clinic experience Recent adult clinical experience within the last 2-3 years Specialty certifications ACLS Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Duties

• Duties include: Provides comprehensive - patient-centered nursing care in an outpatient specialty care setting using the nursing process of assessment - planning - implementation - and evaluation
• Assesses patient needs and develops individualized plans of care based on the patient's condition - age-specific needs - safety considerations - and established goals of care
• Coordinates care across the continuum and provides patient and family education related to medications - procedures - disease prevention - chronic disease management - wellness - and self-management
• Administers medications and performs treatments and therapeutic interventions in accordance with established policies - procedures - and clinical guidelines
• Assists providers with specialty clinic procedures and provides pre- and post-procedure education and care
• Monitors patient condition and safety before - during - and after procedures and appropriately documents assessments - interventions - and patient responses
• Performs clinical procedures including venipuncture - intravenous (IV) therapy - electrocardiograms (EKGs) - nebulizer treatments - Holter monitoring - and other diagnostic testing as assigned
• Initiates appropriate emergency interventions - including use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and emergency airway management - when clinically indicated
• Reviews patient records before and after clinic visits or procedures to identify potential concerns - follow-up needs - and continuity-of-care requirements
• Collaborates with physicians - advanced practice providers - nursing staff - and other members of the interdisciplinary team to coordinate safe and effective patient care
• Facilitates efficient patient flow throughout specialty clinics and assists with coordinating appointments - procedures - and clinical activities
• Functions as a charge nurse when assigned - coordinating patient care activities - communicating with providers and staff - and assisting with appropriate staff assignments and workload distribution
• Ensures accurate documentation - proper specimen identification and labeling - and adherence to patient safety and infection control standards
• Safeguards confidential patient and employee information and complies with applicable privacy - information security - and electronic health record requirements
• Utilizes clinical software - electronic health records - and applicable databases to document and coordinate patient care
• Uses - maintains - and - when applicable - reprocesses reusable medical equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions - standard operating procedures - and established competency requirements
• Promotes positive communication - teamwork - and professional collaboration with patients - families - caregivers - staff - and other internal and external customers
• Incorporates evidence-based practices - patient preferences - and established standards of nursing practice into the delivery of care
• Participates in continuing education - competency validation - performance improvement activities - and unit-based initiatives to support quality patient care
• Maintains required certifications and competencies - including BLS and other facility-required clinical training
• Performs additional duties and assignments as required to support the needs of the clinic and patient population
• 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: 7:30am-4:00pm Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Recruitment/relocation Incentives: Not authorized PCS: Not authorized