The purpose of this Job Announcement is to provide a mechanism for current, permanent VHA employees and the Public to submit interest for Registered Nurse opportunities. Vacancies may not presently exist but may become available at any point during the opening period of this vacancy announcement. Your application materials will be reviewed, and a notice provided reflecting your eligibility. Your application will remain on file through the closing date of this announcement. 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+ years experience as a Registered Nurse. Experience managing the care of acutely and critically ill patients with a wide variety of conditions. Experience in assessing the needs of acutely and critically ill patients, prioritizing care needs, working in a collaborative interdisciplinary team to address identified care needs of acutely and critically ill patients. Experience coordinating and organizing the plan of care from admission through discharge. 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 years 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 and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. 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: 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. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The RN provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Colorado Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community. (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).The RN, as a licensed professional, will be responsible and accountable for his/her practice. The RN applies the nursing process to systems or processes to improve care; demonstrates leadership by involving others in improving care; supports and enhances client self-determination; serves as a resource for clients and staff in resolving ethical issues; identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues taking appropriate action; acquires knowledge and skills to maintain expertise in areas of practice; participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge and enhance role performance; evaluates practice of self and others using professional standards, relevant statutes, and regulations, and takes action to improve performance; uses the group process to identify, analyze, and resolve care problems; educates colleagues and/or students and serves as a preceptor and/or mentor; initiates/participates in quality improvement activities that result in improved outcomes; uses a body of research to validate and/or change work group practice. The RN will provide nursing care to wide variety of patients and will be required to cross train in all departments. He/she may start their shift in one unit and then based on a change in census and acuity be transferred or moved to a different unit to meet operational requirements, so they must be highly flexible in an ever-changing environment. The RN may spend extended periods of time in one nursing unit to help balance off long-term absences (i.e. illness, holidays, maternity leave, etc.). While working within a nursing unit the RN acts as a patient advocate and facilitates communication between the patient, family and other health care professionals. The RN is responsible for but not limited to the following: asses, plan implement, document and evaluate care to ensure a coordinated holistic approach which best meets the needs of the patient; assist patients to achieve their optimum level of health in situations of normal health, illness, injury, or through the process of dying; advocate the dignity and self-respect of patients; promote the autonomy of patient and help them to express their health needs and values to obtain appropriative information and services; act in a manner consistent with their professional code of ethics, responsibilities and standards of practice; facilitate individual learning of patients and their families upon admission and transfer or discharge in relation to patient illness or injury (i.e. self-care, health promotion, etc); assess the patient for physical and psychological needs, their knowledge of their health, disease process and learning needs; perform laboratory patient testing and reporting as assigned; collect appropriate specimens from patients; perform pain assessments; manage central and peripheral IV access and medications (to include IV push medications); recognize overt abnormal signs and symptoms or changes in patient's needs; report changes to the appropriate provider and documents effectively. Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards. Paid Time Off: Annual Leave 1 hour for every 10 hours in pay status; Sick Leave 1 hour for every 20 hours in pay status. 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). Premiums maybe higher for Part Time employees. Work Schedule: The work hours will be in the range from 7am to 7:30pm or 7pm to 7:30am. Compressed/Flexible: Not available. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. 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. The VA Martinsburg Healthcare System offers a wide range of health, support, and facility services for Veterans at 8 locations serving western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, northwest Virginia, and West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Primary Care services are offered at the following locations. Martinsburg WV, Hagerstown MD, Cumberland MD, Franklin WV, Harrisonburg VA, Petersburg WV and Winchester VA.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans.
Physicians interested in caring for our America's Veterans and their families, email Nicole.Carey@va.gov or call 304-620-4354.
