The Atlanta VA Healthcare system is seeking a Registered Nurse with an active and unrestricted license for our Operating Room/Perioperative department. This position is open to all eligible candidates that currently is a permanent VA Employee. 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. Preferred Experience 3 year experience CNOR certification Able to function in the scrub and circulator role 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: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (2-6 hours); Pushing (2-6 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (5-9 hours); Standing (4-8 hours); Kneeling (1-2 hours) Repeated bending (2-4 hours); Climbing, legs only (1-2 hours), Twisting (2-4 hours), Working closely with others. ["The Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur is seeking a dynamic Registered Nurse-Operating Room to serve in the Perioperative Nursing Service Line. The Registered Nurse-Operating Room is responsible for caseloads of patients on a daily-basis in a customer-focused and outcome-directed operating room suite. He/she is responsible and accountable for all elements of nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Job Duties /Expectations: The Registered Nurse duties will include but are not limited to: Circulating Nurse in all service lines (except cardiac surgery) Surgical scrub in most cases On-call duties Team Leader for one surgical service line Demonstrate leadership by involving others in improving care. Initiate/participate in quality improvement activities that result in approved outcomes. Evaluate practice of self and others using professional standards, relevant statutes, and regulations and take action to improve performance. Acquire knowledge and skills to maintain expertise in area of practice. Participate in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge and enhance role performance. TMS computer based on-going learning Annual competencies Participate in environment of care Crash cart daily check-off Support and enhance client self-determination and serve as resource for clients and staff in addressing ethical issues. Use a body of research to validate and/or change work group practice and identify and assess resource utilization and safety issues, taking appropriate action. Educate colleagues and/or students and serve as a preceptor and/or mentor and use the group process to identify, analyze and resolve care problems. Work collaboratively with Sterile Processing Service, Logistics and other services that provide support to OR operations. Responsible to the Nurse Manager, Service Line Designee, or other nursing management with practice accountability to the Associate Director for Patient/Nursing Services. May supervise other RNs, NAs and surgical technician Preferred Qualifications: 3 year experience CNOR certification Able to function in the scrub and circulator role 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: To be determined by hiring manager; could be between 7:00am and 3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Lakita.Bush@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): NOT Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
