Registered Nurse - Outpatient Staff

Veterans Health Administration • Baltimore, MD

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent will be working at the Baltimore VA Medical Center located in Baltimore, Maryland as an Outpatient Staff RN. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care to millions of enrolled Veterans through a nationwide network of VA medical centers and outpatient clinics.

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 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.)
• This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• This position also requires the ability to lift 30 lbs.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Three years recent med surg experience and recent outpatient clinic experience.
• Experience in a GYN, ENT, Urology, Vascular, General Surgery, Podiatry and Orthopedics surgical outpatient settings preferred.
• HCG and A1C POC testing experience.
• Strong phlebotomy skills.
• Immunization administration experience.
• Keen computer and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides fundamental, knowledge-based nursing care to assigned patients while developing and maintaining technical nursing skills.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates patient care using age-specific considerations and established nursing standards.
• Coordinates comprehensive patient care with an emphasis on patient education, self-management, continuity of care, and customer satisfaction.
• Administers medications, treatments, and nursing procedures in accordance with established policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, social workers, and other interdisciplinary team members to promote positive patient outcomes.
• Monitors patient responses to treatment and modifies nursing interventions based on assessment findings and changes in patient condition.
• Provides education to patients and families regarding medications, treatment plans, disease management, self-care, and preventive health measures.
• Demonstrates leadership, professional judgment, clinical experience, and creative problem-solving when managing complex patient-care situations.
• Participates actively in unit- and program-level quality improvement initiatives, performance improvement activities, and customer-service programs.
• Promotes a safe, respectful, patient-centered environment while addressing patient needs and supporting high-quality healthcare delivery.
• Demonstrates accountability, professionalism, and effective communication while coordinating care across the healthcare continuum.

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) and 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