Nurse (Emergency Department)

Veterans Health Administration • Cincinnati, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse (Emergency Department) provides urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. The CVAMC has a two-division campus in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and serves 15 counties in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana, with six community-based outpatient clinics and two additional off-campus locations in the Cincinnati area.

The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates age-specific patient care; coordinates care and transitions across the health care continuum; provides patient education and health promotion; administers medications and procedures according to established policies; and collaborates with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to support safe, effective care and positive outcomes. The role includes delegating and supervising basic nursing care provided by licensed practical nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, supporting nursing education and quality improvement, and contributing a professional nursing perspective to team decisions.

The position also calls for evidence-based practice, knowledge sharing, professional development, and leadership in improving care and the Veteran experience. The nurse helps ensure continuity of care, advocates for patients, addresses ethical issues, and supports consistent, high-quality outcomes. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and application requirements. The role is not available for telework or virtual work; relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable recognized nursing education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the grade and level assigned, as described for Nurse I, Level I through Nurse III.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including urinalysis for positions designated for testing, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete required onboarding and application documentation.
• Meet the position's physical requirements, including lifting and carrying tasks up to 35 pounds, pushing and pulling items not greater than 35 pounds, reaching, and performing the listed clinical movements and activities.
• Use proper body mechanics during lifting and have adequate vision and hearing to perform assigned duties; hearing aids are permitted.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.

Nice To Haves

• Prior emergency department experience.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care based on age-specific needs.
• Partner with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team to promote effective, safe transitions across the health care continuum.
• Coordinate care with a focus on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction.
• Administer medications and perform procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Delegate and supervise basic nursing care provided by licensed practical nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization.
• Provide urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions.
• Contribute a professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary team discussions and partner with others to improve outcomes.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing and share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Question clinical practices and participate in activities that sustain evidence-based practice.
• Use nursing knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment to manage complex situations and validate understanding of care processes and decisions.
• Develop leadership skills and manage competing priorities.
• Implement care plans, including care coordination, health teaching, and health promotion; evaluate progress and adjust plans as needed.
• Lead and organize care delivery to ensure continuity and peer accountability in alignment with ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Lead staff planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting.
• Lead improvement initiatives and efforts to improve the Veteran experience beyond the immediate practice setting.
• Advocate for patients, address ethical issues affecting patients, caregivers, and staff, and model high-reliability principles and I CARE values.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and application requirements, with a potential award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years as determined by the program office.
• 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 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 is accepted for licensure.

What This Job Offers

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