Rehabilitation Nursing Service Inpatient Staff RN

Veterans Health Administration • Tampa, FL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and Clinics is hiring a registered nurse for its Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation Unit, which specializes in caring for patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) as they transition back into the community. Nursing care is delivered through a primary nursing system, with the RN playing a key role in the interdisciplinary treatment program.

The Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and, as appropriate to the setting, oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. The nurse applies the nursing process, clinical expertise, evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and deliberate planning to deliver and improve holistic care. The role also supports nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization.

The work schedule is 7:30 AM to 8:00 PM or 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM, with rotating weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation, recruitment incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized. Applicants must meet VA nursing education and licensure requirements, English proficiency, and applicable employment and physical readiness conditions.

Requirements

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Graduation from a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or qualifying education under the stated foreign-education or master's-level bridge provisions.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass applicable pre-employment requirements, including background/security investigation and physical evaluation; maintain CDT physical readiness.
• Meet the physical demands of the position, including strenuous activity, carrying people and equipment, walking long distances over difficult terrain, running, climbing, extended work in arduous conditions, prolonged standing, bending, and stooping.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities before accepting a final employment offer if selected.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Preferred: five years of RN experience; three years of Med Surg, Tele, or ICU experience; mental health or TBI experience; and specialty certification.

Nice To Haves

• Five years of RN experience.
• Three years of Med Surg, Tele, or ICU experience.
• Mental health or TBI experience.
• Certification in any specialty.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Formulate plans of care based on nursing assessments.
• Participate in nursing excellence activities, quality improvement, and unit-based or organizational Shared Governance councils.
• Use clinical expertise and evidence-based practice to develop approaches to concerns and improve the quality of care provided to veterans.
• Be accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and contribute to quality improvement and outcomes utilization.
• Demonstrate competence in practice and decision-making, deliberate planning, and critical thinking.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care using age-specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and perform procedures according to established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches in managing complex client care.

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 can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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