Emergency Department Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • San Juan, PR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Department Registered Nurse provides and coordinates direct nursing care for individuals and groups of acute and critical patients. The nurse performs all elements of the nursing process, including gathering data, assessing patient needs, exercising nursing judgment, and evaluating responses to actual or potential health problems. Care includes patient education, self-management support, customer service, health promotion, illness and injury prevention, and care across the continuum. The nurse administers medications and treatments, performs procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines, and executes medical regimens prescribed by an authorized provider.

The Emergency Department Staff Nurse also assesses and provides care in Triage, Inside Triage, and Fast Track, and may assist patients, visitors, and families arriving at the Emergency Department as an RN Greeter. The nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and works cooperatively with ancillary nursing and other patient-care personnel to maintain professional nursing standards. The role includes patient and family teaching, participation in unit or program quality-improvement initiatives and customer-service programs, and, at the Nurse II level, leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies.

The nurse ensures care is provided in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and Nursing Service and VA Caribbean Health Care System standards, under the guidance of the Nurse Manager or designee. The role may respond to internal or external hospital emergencies and disasters as part of the Hospital Emergency Response Team. The nurse is expected to develop therapeutic relationships with patients, caregivers, and colleagues and to uphold the nursing profession’s primary commitment to the patient.

The position has rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. 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, or qualifying foreign nursing education with required equivalency validation where applicable.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an eligible Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply.
• Meet the education, professional nursing experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable VA nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required onboarding and acceptable identity documentation, pass a pre-employment physical evaluation, and undergo applicable background/security investigation and drug screening.
• Registration with Selective Service is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
• Ability to perform the physical duties of the position, including patient lifting, moving, transferring, and escorting, and standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, and fine manipulation.
• Ability to work with acutely ill patients, patients who may display disturbed behaviors, and stressful situations.
• When respirator use is required, the employee must be able to achieve a proper respirator seal; facial hair or other conditions interfering with the seal or valve function are not permitted.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of registered nurse experience.
• Moderate sedation competencies.
• Previous experience in an intensive care unit or emergency department setting.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) provider credentials.

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care using all elements of the nursing process.
• Coordinate total nursing care for individuals and groups of acute and critical patients.
• Assess patients and provide care in Triage, Inside Triage, and Fast Track.
• Assist patients, visitors, and families arriving at the Emergency Department as an RN Greeter.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care.
• Administer medications, treatments, and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines and authorized medical regimens.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.
• Participate in unit- or program-level quality-improvement initiatives and customer-service programs.
• Teach patients and families and work cooperatively with ancillary nursing and other patient-care personnel.
• Ensure quality nursing care is delivered in accordance with policies, procedures, and Nursing Service and VA Caribbean Health Care System standards, under the Nurse Manager or designee.
• Respond to internal or external hospital emergencies and disasters as part of the Hospital Emergency Response Team.
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients, caregivers, and other professionals and supportive personnel.
• Promote and maintain health and help prevent illness and injury through nursing care and counseling.

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.
• 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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