Registered Nurse (Critical Care) - Education Debt Reduction Program Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • San Antonio, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This Critical Care Registered Nurse position is located at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. The RN provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting. The nurse applies the nursing process at the unit level to improve care and assists with nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization consultation. The role supports Veterans with complex health care needs.

The position is authorized for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Applicants must meet VHA eligibility requirements and submit an application within four months of appointment. The VHA program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) after reviewing the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position with rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays; flexibility is required. Telework, relocation incentives, and permanent change of station are not available. The position requires a current, full, active, unrestricted nursing license and nursing education from an appropriately accredited program, subject to the qualifications and grade criteria described in the posting.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or meet an accepted equivalent pathway described in the announcement.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an applicable Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described in the posting.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• Submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking program participation, and meet VHA eligibility requirements.
• Meet federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the stated exception, background/security investigation, and applicable pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Be flexible to work rotating day, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of critical ICU experience; Medical ICU experience preferred.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Related nursing certification.
• Experience with facility rapid response teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants, as appropriate to the setting.
• Apply the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit level to improve care.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competencies.
• Provide quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation.
• Assist Veterans in receiving services to meet their complex health care needs.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years.
• 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
• Education Level: Associate degree