Career Center

The Columbia VA Health Care System (VAHCS) opened in 1932 at its current location. The facility has 204 skilled nursing beds, which includes acute medical, surgical, psychiatric, and long-term care. The hospital provides primary, secondary, and some tertiary care. The facility is a complex teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services. 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 the appropriate State-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). 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. NOTE: Nurse III must demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. The Nurse III is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level. In order to be considered for appointment to Nurse III, outcomes must be documented. Meeting the Practice dimension involves incorporating and implementing the requirements of the other qualification standards, including: (a) Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. (b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making and evaluating outcomes. (c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. (d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise. (e) Guiding, developing and supporting staff from a leadership perspective. f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. 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. Dorn VAMC is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Lift 45 pounds or over, carry 45 pounds or over; reaching above the shoulders, emotional stability, ability to distinguish basic and shades of color; 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. 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. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30, 2022. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 17, 2022, with subsequent cut-off dates every Monday. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until position(s) are filled. The RN Supervisor \"WHEN\" demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with the Nurse Managers in their absence on the off shifts. This position requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital and the Registered Nurse II works Weekends, Holidays, Evenings and Nights (WHEN) as a regular schedule. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs. Knowledgeable of documentation requirements in clinical records and gives feedback to staff. Assures appropriate patient care assignments based on nursing competencies and patient acuity and requirement. Knowledgeable of staffing requirements for all units. Collects and analyzes data specifically related to, restraints, Foleys, central lines. Coordinates and collaborates with other services and departments to coordinate patient care activities on all units during WHEN hours. Knowledgeable of labor relations procedures and AFGE contract and is aware of how to seek guidance on these issues. Counsels and provides input into disciplinary action procedures and seeks guidance as necessary. Refers appropriately to the NM, Associate or Nurse Exec. Manages situations that require conflict resolution and/or negotiation. Delegates and assigns work, based on staff competencies, positions descriptions, and functional statements. Completes necessary administrative/clinical reports within specified time frames. Able to assimilate all information for patient care report utilizing data base and word. Other duties assigned by management. Work Schedule: Weekends, Holidays, Evenings, and Nights, Rotational Shifts include 0700-1930, 0700-1530, 1100-1930, 1500-2300, 1900-0730, 1500-0330, 2300-0730. (subject to change based on agency needs)\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards"]