Registered Nurse (Outpatient)

Veterans Health Administration • Port Richey, FL

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. This role assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components, ensuring timely and appropriate provision of services. The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal outpatient care. The role assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of patient care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. The nurse brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills. The incumbent may be required to travel to alternate facilities/sites within the Tampa VA Hospital and Clinics catchment area to provide patient care via cross coverage or reassignments. Additional duties as assigned may be required.

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.)
• Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings.
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.
• 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.
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Nice To Haves

• BSN
• 2+ years of Ambulatory care, primary care, or acute nursing experience and case management skills

Responsibilities

• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components.
• Determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal outpatient care.
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of patient care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction.
• Formulates a plan of care based on nursing assessments.
• Seeks guidance on how to improve care provided to patients and families.
• Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs, condition, and safety of the patient.
• Participates in activities supporting nursing excellence, quality improvement and unit based and/or organizational level Shared Governance councils.
• Utilizes clinical expertise and evidence-based practice to find innovative approaches to address concerns to improve the quality care provided to veterans.
• May be required to travel to alternate facilities/sites within the Tampa VA Hospital and Clinics catchment area to provide patient care via cross coverage or reassignments.
• Additional duties as assigned may be required.

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

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