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Position Title: Registered Nurse - Hospice Palliative Care (Unit 1Q) 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: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in 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. Note: ensure the 10-2850a lists all current or previous licensure for verification. While this announcement is posted at various grade levels, the Professional Standards Board will determine the grade assignment of a selected candidate. 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 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. BLS/ACLS Requirements: Current certification in Basis Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required for all staff providing direct patient care and working in PCU. If you are selected, you will be required to have proof of certification prior to being boarded for appointment with VA or obtain such certification in order to avoid any delays in the hiring process. Preferred Experience: Hospice and or/LTC experience 2-3 years, RN experience 2-3 years Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in a patient care setting; adequately lighted, temperature controlled, and ventilated. Office temperatures fluctuate periodically; involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as clinics, offices, meeting and training rooms or libraries; exposure to noise and dust on occasion. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. 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 Hospice Palliative Care (HPC) (Unit 1Q) Registered Nurse is administratively responsible and accountable to the Nurse Manager, HPC. His/her duties include management of care and support of the veteran coping with chronic diseases or end of life care issues. This will include the management, of spiritual, psychosocial, emotional care for the veteran in this life cycle. Residents admitted to the Hospice and Palliative Care beds usually have a need for physical care involving assisting with ADLs, bowel and bladder management, management of altered mental status related to disease processes that may include wandering, sundowning, and secondary psychiatric disorders. There is also an important need for grief, loss and bereavement support. Care provided through this program is open to any Veteran who has a life-limiting illness or end-stage chronic disease. This care extends primarily to residents with a variety of end- stage diagnoses. Diagnoses include, but are not limited to: metastatic cancers, end-stage pulmonary, neurological, renal, liver, AIDS and Alzheimer's Diseases. Palliative care helps residents understand the nature of their illness and make timely, informed decisions about their care, together with their families. Palliative care is not dependent on prognosis and can be delivered with other forms of medical treatment. Hospice Care is provided to terminally ill residents-those who are expected to live 6 months or less, and who are no longer receiving curative treatments. The Primary goal of care is supportive and comfort, depending on diagnosis rather than curative. Resident-centered plans of care that focuses on symptom management, pain control, resident comfort; and assistance with resolving social and spiritual concerns. Hospice Care and Palliative care are both provided by an interdisciplinary team, which includes a physician, nurse, social worker, psychologist, chaplain, and nutritionist. Residents receive routine care such as, but not limited to: administration of medications/treatments, wound care, assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) The RN provides Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA), Education of disease processes, end of life care and psychosocial needs as part of the focus of daily care. Duties include, but are not limited to: -Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with all internal and external customers. -Demonstrate working practices that include adherence to Infection Control standards and the safe use and operation of equipment. -Perform psychosocial assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health care needs and care of specific patients and their significant others/families. -Identify and reports all unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel to ensure a safe environment for all patients, medical center personnel, and visitors. Employee also practices safe working habits to avoid damage to government equipment, building structures and motor vehicles. -Provide population specific and age-specific care for patients from young adulthood to older veterans in the senior years of life. -Work collaboratively with all levels of health care professional and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. -(BLS) certification is required for this position and can be obtained upon hire. -Initiate, plan, implement, evaluate, and appropriately document patient care based on identified measurable outcomes in the applicable assigned patient care environment. -Skills in time management, priority setting, assessment and urgent intervention are essential for this unit. -Use Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) documentation in compliance with designated facility programs. -Implement the National Patient Safety Goals to support positive outcomes for the patient group. -May provide direct supervision and be assigned as a preceptor to new or less experienced staff or nursing students. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, every other weekend,. Shift preference will be discussed at interview.\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Authorized\nTelework: Not Authorized\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required\nVA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards"]