Registered Nurse - Hospice / Short Stay CLC (Recruitment/Relocation Incentives)

Veterans Health Administration • Syracuse, NY

31d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) for the Hospice/Short Stay Community Living Center (CLC) is responsible for delivering fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients. This role involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care tailored to age-specific needs, with a focus on patient education, self-management, and satisfaction. The RN will administer medications and procedures according to policies, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to improve care outcomes, and take responsibility for individual nursing practice. The position also involves assisting in directing nursing education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement initiatives, and partnering with residents, families, and team members to ensure effective and safe care transitions across healthcare settings. The role requires applying foundational critical thinking and theoretical knowledge to clinical situations, seeking guidance as needed, and ensuring accurate documentation and compliance by consulting with the MDS Coordinator for RUG score accuracy. Support for quality improvement efforts by utilizing evidence-based practices and outcomes data is also a key aspect, maintaining accountability for delivering safe, comprehensive, and patient-centered nursing care within the CLC.

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/examination.
• 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 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 5019, 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.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care & Hospice experience.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and clinical competence in patient care.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized care based on age-specific needs.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and enhancing customer satisfaction throughout the continuum.
• Administer medications and procedures following established policies, guidelines, and safety protocols.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to improve care outcomes and promote safe transitions.
• Provide evidence-based, competent nursing care to residents while supervising licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Partner with residents, families, and team members to ensure effective and safe care transitions across healthcare settings.
• Apply foundational critical thinking and theoretical knowledge to clinical situations, seeking guidance as needed.
• Ensure accurate documentation and compliance by consulting with the MDS Coordinator for RUG score accuracy.
• Support quality improvement efforts by utilizing evidence-based practices and outcomes data.
• Maintain accountability for delivering safe, comprehensive, and patient-centered nursing care within the community living center.

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