Nurse- Community Care

Veterans Health Administration • Battle Creek, MI

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting a Registered Nurse for its Community Care Service. The nurse independently plans and delivers technically competent care to patients with complex needs, assesses patient conditions and responses to treatment, recognizes changes in condition, and responds appropriately. The nurse develops and updates care plans in accordance with ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, involves patients and families in care and discharge planning, assesses learning needs, provides education, and documents the nursing process. The role also includes assigning and directing unit staff activities and safely using and reporting problems with patient-care equipment.

The position follows a Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. schedule. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. Physical requirements include visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Patient or object transfers may be required; mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may encounter infectious or contaminated materials, combative patients, and stressful situations. Care in home or other off-site settings may require driving or riding in government vehicles.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated provisions for qualifying bridge-program candidates and graduates of foreign nursing schools.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education, experience, and scope criteria for the assigned nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; complete onboarding and application requirements.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Ability to meet the position's physical requirements, including visual acuity, hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and potentially prolonged periods of movement and postures.
• A probationary period may be required.

Responsibilities

• Independently plan and deliver technically competent care to patients with complex needs.
• Safely and effectively use equipment required for patient care and report equipment in need of repair.
• Recognize subtle abnormal signs and symptoms or changes in patients' conditions and respond appropriately.
• Make assignments and direct activities of unit staff, including RNs, LPNs, students, PSAs, and other team members.
• Formulate and implement plans of care based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Complete initial assessments of patient condition and response to treatment and initiate follow-up as needed.
• Include patients and families or significant others in developing initial care plans, goals, and discharge plans.
• Update plans of care based on patient responses.
• Assess patients' learning needs, preferences, and readiness to learn; develop and implement plans to meet those needs.
• Instruct patients and families on education needs and discharge planning.
• Document the nursing process.

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 federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• 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
• Education Level: Associate degree