Cardiac Catheterization Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking a Cardiac Catheterization/Electrophysiology Laboratory Registered Nurse for its Specialty Care Service. The nurse provides competent, evidence-based procedural care to assigned patients and oversight of appropriate support staff in pre- and post-procedural settings. The role includes patient care, care coordination, health promotion, education, and coaching, as well as support for nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization.

The nurse delivers and manages care for inpatients and outpatients undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic cardiology procedures. Responsibilities include assessing patients’ physical and mental status before procedures; educating patients about procedures and pre- and post-procedural care; documenting findings and responses to interventions; and reporting changes. The nurse partners with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to support safe transitions across the care continuum and the Veteran’s goals of care.

The nurse may work in pre-procedure assessment, post-procedure recovery, or assist providers during procedures. The position requires maintaining proficiency in the maintenance, cleaning, and preparation of cardiology-specific equipment; recognizing changes in patient situations and initiating appropriate emergency responses; and adapting to schedule changes. The nurse may be assigned call and must follow facility response-time policies. The role calls for experience in the situations the nurse is expected to handle, strong critical thinking, and technically skilled practice.

The work schedule is four days per week, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with rotating days off. On-call coverage is required on alternate weekday nights and alternate weekends. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the education pathways and exceptions described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception for candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience requirements for the applicable VA Nurse grade and level.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Comply with Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding and required application documentation.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; effective May 7, 2025, non-REAL-ID-compliant state identification cannot be used.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Meet the physical demands, including heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, pushing and pulling, reaching above shoulder level, finger use, use of both hands, walking and standing up to eight hours, repeated bending, and rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aids are permitted.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of Cath Lab, critical care, or emergency room experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based procedural care to assigned patients and oversee appropriate support staff in pre- and post-procedural settings.
• Provide patient care, care coordination, health promotion, health education, and coaching.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and contribute to quality improvement and outcomes utilization.
• Manage care for inpatients and outpatients undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic cardiology procedures.
• Assess patients’ physical and mental status before procedures; educate them about procedures and pre- and post-procedural care; document findings and responses to interventions; and report changes.
• Partner with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to promote safe transitions across the healthcare continuum and support Veterans’ goals of care.
• Provide peers with informal constructive feedback, share educational findings and ideas, and foster a safe, supportive environment for healthcare professionals.
• Integrate evidence-based practice with clinical expertise and participate in activities that sustain and improve an evidence-based-practice culture.
• Perform pre-procedure assessments, post-procedure recovery, and assistance to providers during procedures as assigned.
• Maintain proficiency in the maintenance, cleaning, and preparation of cardiology-specific equipment.
• Recognize changes in patient-care situations and initiate appropriate emergency responses.
• Adapt to daily schedule changes and, when assigned call, follow facility policies regarding response time.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree