Registered Nurse - Emergency Department

Veterans Health Administration • Martinsburg, WV

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Emergency Department (ED) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and provides urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions. This position is an intermittent appointment. Duties Nursing care ranges from basic nursing care to stabilization, resuscitation, and life-support measures. Emergency nursing practice is independent and collaborative. The ED RN practice includes the roles of direct care provider, educator, administrator, researcher, consultant, leader, and advocate. Evaluates practice in an ongoing process, based on best evidence. Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team. Partners with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes. Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Shares educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture. The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment (Effective May 7, 2025).
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6).
• OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program.
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.
• Work will require long periods of regular and recurring standing and walking (8-12 hours) with regular and recurring heavy lifting (35 lbs. and over) and positioning of patients while maintaining balance.
• Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, move body and extremities quickly, push and pull equipment, carry equipment and supplies (heavy 35 lbs. and over) without personal limitations or physical restrictions.
• Protracted periods of sitting with an assigned patient may be required.
• Physical endurance and physical tolerance are required for an 8-hour shift as assigned.

Nice To Haves

• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ; OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. (For Nurse I, Level II)
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. (For Nurse I, Level III)
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. (For Nurse II)
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. (For Nurse III)
• Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

Responsibilities

• Providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Providing urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions.
• Performing nursing care ranging from basic nursing care to stabilization, resuscitation, and life-support measures.
• Practicing emergency nursing independently and collaboratively.
• Acting as a direct care provider, educator, administrator, researcher, consultant, leader, and advocate.
• Evaluating practice in an ongoing process, based on best evidence.
• Providing peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement.
• Fostering a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.
• Contributing professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team.
• Partnering with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes.
• Supporting colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Sharing educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Participating in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture.
• Assisting in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, and competencies.
• Providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Regular salary increases
• Potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
• Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree