Registered Nurse - Surgical Coordinator

Veterans Health Administration • Gainesville, FL

5h • Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Coordinator Registered Nurse works in the Surgical Care Department at the Malcom Randall Medical Center, providing compassionate, Veteran-centered care. The role coordinates and schedules surgeries with Veterans in accordance with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and National Surgery Office directives, consults with supervising physicians about significant medical changes, and advocates for patients throughout the surgical process.

The coordinator prepares patients for surgery by working with specialty clinics, operating room staff, anesthesia, and other providers. The position helps ensure preoperative testing, medication changes, travel, driver arrangements, and required logistical or surgical equipment are arranged in a timely manner. The nurse also manages surgical scheduling records, reviews reports, maintains performance metrics, and participates in quality improvement initiatives while following applicable policies, standard operating procedures, and standards of care.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. The VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes paid leave, retirement, insurance, and licensure support.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the education pathways and exceptions described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply as described in the announcement.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned nurse grade and level.
• A full and unrestricted license from a U.S. state or territory is required as stated in the announcement.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and applicable pre-employment identification requirements.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Register for Selective Service if male and born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• Be capable of working effectively in stressful situations and shifting priorities based on patient needs.
• Meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and potentially prolonged periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient or object transfers may be required.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• At least three years of RN experience in case management, care coordination, a surgical clinic, an operating room, or surgical medical-surgical nursing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Promote and maintain health and prevent illness and injury through the nursing process, including systematic data gathering and assessment.
• Administer medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider.
• Deliver fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies.
• Apply principles of evidence-based practice.
• Develop and coordinate seamless patient transitions across the surgical continuum through operating room planning.
• Communicate timely completion of preoperative testing, medication changes, travel, and driver arrangements.
• Maintain communication with providers and the Nurse Manager to request and procure required logistical, prosthetics, and loaner surgical items in a timely manner.
• Attend weekly surgical specialty meetings to review upcoming procedures and special equipment needs.
• Consult supervising physicians about significant medical changes that may require therapeutic intervention, pharmacological or radiological services, or consultations.
• Receive surgery requests, communicate with Veterans to schedule procedures, and enter required information into computer databases in accordance with VHA and National Surgery Office directives.
• Manage the surgical scheduling electronic health record to ensure patients are appropriately dispositioned.
• Review and analyze computer-generated reports daily, identify variances, and initiate corrective actions when necessary.
• Advocate for patients by addressing inquiries and resolving concerns, and collaborate with specialty clinics, OR staff, anesthesia, and other providers to prepare patients for surgery.
• Maintain performance metrics and participate in quality improvement initiatives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.
• Licensure: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.

What This Job Offers

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