Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Registered Nurse - Community Living Center
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Topeka, Kansas, United States, 66652
Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval – award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.
Qualifications – Basic Requirements
English Language Proficiency (basic written and spoken English)
Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency; accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Alternatively, individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s level degree in nursing may 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 a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment after successful completion of the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005 – Appendix G6)
Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who possess a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration 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.
Foreign nursing education higher than an associate degree/entry level requires 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 U.S. state, territory, Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but do not possess 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 the 0610 series and performing 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: Scope and Dimension criteria must be met for grade assignment and, if appropriate, level within that grade. 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:
Assessment Questionnaire .
Examples of grade/level scope and education requirements:
Nurse I – Level I: Requires an Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing; no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse I – Level II: Requires an ADN or Diploma with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level I, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse I – Level III: Requires an ADN or Diploma with 2 years of professional nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse I – Level II), or a BSN with 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level II, or a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) with 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: Requires a BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, or an MSN with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, 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: Requires an MSN with 2 years of specialized nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse II) and meeting all dimension requirements for Nurse III, or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse II) meeting all dimension requirements, or a Doctoral degree in nursing with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II, or a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II.
Foreign education programs/degrees are not credited as related degrees.
Physical requirements: Registered nurses must have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity. The position may require long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and lifting of at least 35 pounds; transferring, lifting patients and objects may be required. Staff may be required to don protective equipment in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures and may be exposed to patients who are combative, delirious, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
VA Qualification Standards .
Duties & Responsibilities
Provides full range of nursing services utilizing the nursing process.
Administers prescribed therapies using nursing judgement.
Promotes discharge planning and follow‑up care as needed.
Listens to and includes patient and family in the plan of care.
Provides feedback and patient education.
Communicates with Veterans about their health care options, including local VA, other VA medical centers, and community‑based eligibility.
Works closely with other VA medical centers, contracted facilities, and community facilities to remove obstacles that would impede Veterans from utilizing services at other VA medical centers.
Educates providers on medical‑management processes.
Provides clinical knowledge and serves as a clinical resource to non‑clinical multidisciplinary staff.
Other duties assigned.
Preferred Experience: Hospice, Rehabilitation, or Skilled Nursing.
Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
Work Schedule: Full‑time day/night rotating schedule.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
Benefits & Compensation
VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Qualifications – Basic Requirements
English Language Proficiency (basic written and spoken English)
Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency; accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Alternatively, individuals attending a master’s level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s level degree in nursing may 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 a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment after successful completion of the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005 – Appendix G6)
Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who possess a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration 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.
Foreign nursing education higher than an associate degree/entry level requires 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 U.S. state, territory, Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia.
Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but do not possess 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 the 0610 series and performing 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: Scope and Dimension criteria must be met for grade assignment and, if appropriate, level within that grade. 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:
Assessment Questionnaire .
Examples of grade/level scope and education requirements:
Nurse I – Level I: Requires an Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing; no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse I – Level II: Requires an ADN or Diploma with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level I, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse I – Level III: Requires an ADN or Diploma with 2 years of professional nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse I – Level II), or a BSN with 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level II, or a Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) with 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: Requires a BSN with 2 years of professional nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, or an MSN with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I – Level III, 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: Requires an MSN with 2 years of specialized nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse II) and meeting all dimension requirements for Nurse III, or a Master’s degree in a related field with a BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse II) meeting all dimension requirements, or a Doctoral degree in nursing with 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II, or a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II.
Foreign education programs/degrees are not credited as related degrees.
Physical requirements: Registered nurses must have visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity. The position may require long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and lifting of at least 35 pounds; transferring, lifting patients and objects may be required. Staff may be required to don protective equipment in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures and may be exposed to patients who are combative, delirious, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
VA Qualification Standards .
Duties & Responsibilities
Provides full range of nursing services utilizing the nursing process.
Administers prescribed therapies using nursing judgement.
Promotes discharge planning and follow‑up care as needed.
Listens to and includes patient and family in the plan of care.
Provides feedback and patient education.
Communicates with Veterans about their health care options, including local VA, other VA medical centers, and community‑based eligibility.
Works closely with other VA medical centers, contracted facilities, and community facilities to remove obstacles that would impede Veterans from utilizing services at other VA medical centers.
Educates providers on medical‑management processes.
Provides clinical knowledge and serves as a clinical resource to non‑clinical multidisciplinary staff.
Other duties assigned.
Preferred Experience: Hospice, Rehabilitation, or Skilled Nursing.
Licensure: One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
Work Schedule: Full‑time day/night rotating schedule.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.
Benefits & Compensation
VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards.
#J-18808-Ljbffr