Registered Nurse - Emergency Department

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

33d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Emergency Department (ED) is integral frontline staff performing initial patient triage and ongoing assessment and treatment of acute/urgent presenting symptoms in collaboration with the provider. The RN uses critical thinking and excellent communication skills to care for patients and is knowledgeable of an array of presenting symptoms to quickly triage with appropriate use of nursing protocols in providing evidence-based care.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a trial 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.)
• Note: 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.

Nice To Haves

• 5+ years Emergency Department experience highly preferred
• 2+ years of Emergency Department Triage experience using Emergency Severity Index ( ESI), highly preferred
• 1+ years of Emergency Department Charge Nurse experience highly preferred
• ACLS/BLS highly preferred
• Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) highly desired

Responsibilities

• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care.
• Collaborates in the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and/or guidelines.
• Provides urgent and emergent care to patients with acute and/or chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions.
• 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.
• Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement.
• Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conductive to the professional development of health care professionals.
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations.
• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level.
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within the facility.
• The ED RN is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing care.
• They assess the patient by collecting pertinent data or information, including the triage of patients based on the five-level triage system to prioritize patients that require more immediate care.
• They use the assessment data to determine diagnosis, problems, or other concerns.
• They will identify expected outcomes to develop a collaborative and individualized plan for each patient.
• The ED RN will implement that plan, including care coordination, health teaching, and health promotion.
• The evaluate the progress toward achieving the expected goal outcomes and adjusts the plan as necessary.

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)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

What This Job Offers

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