Registered Nurse - Spinal Cord Injury (Inpatient)

Summary The Spinal Cord Injury Service consists of a 38 bed CARF-accredited rehabilitation unit. This service provides care for medically complex patients including vent dependent patients - and provides acute SCI rehabilitation - medical rehospitalizations - post-op care - pressure ulcer treatment - annual evaluations - and outpatient treatment.

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/12844255

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 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 and no 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: Prior SCI Rehab Nursing experience Prior Rehab Nursing experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Functional Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over)

Straight pulling (6 hours)

Pushing (2 hours)

Reaching above shoulder

Use of fingers

Both hands required

Walking (6 hours)

Standing (2 hours)

Repeated bending (6 hours)

Both legs required

Ability to distinguish basic colors

Visual acuity 20/30 corrected.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses)

Delivers safe care to assigned patients - while developing technical competencies

Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment

Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures

Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately

Monitor telemetry and respond to rhythm changes Implements physician's/provider's orders in a timely and complete manner

Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner

Requests assistance from co-workers when needed

knows when to ask for help

Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments - using the nursing process - based on the ANA Standards of Nursing

Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed

Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care and establishing goals

Updates plan of care with assistance as needed

Assess patient's learning needs - learning preference and readiness to learn

Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs - instructing patients and families in basic health teaching and discharge planning

Documentation is consistent - accurate - concise - and timely

Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of goals and expected outcomes

Revises plan of care with evaluations of patient's responses and outcomes

Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - Essentris - Clinical Procedures - and Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy - as well as any future patient documentation programs

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: Full-time

Compressed day shifts with alternating weekends - 7:30am - 4:00pm and 7:30am - 8:00pm

Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

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