Registered Nurse Surgical ICU

United States Department of Veterans Affairs • Durham, NC

408d • $80,628 - $151,006 • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse position in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at the Durham VA Health Care System involves providing critical care to adult patients post-surgery. The role requires collaboration with an interdisciplinary team to ensure patient-centered care, including assessment, documentation, and discharge planning. The SICU is a high-acuity environment with a nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:1 to 1:3, depending on patient needs. The position emphasizes the importance of safe nursing practices, patient rights, and continuous education.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency.
• English language proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment physical examination and participate in vaccination programs.

Nice To Haves

• A minimum of two years of successful nursing practice.
• A minimum of two years of Critical Care experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated skills in decision-making, sound clinical judgment, and critical-thinking abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to use computer systems in support of patient care delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe and effective nursing practice in emergencies, considering the patient's age, physiological, psychological, and cognitive status.
• Protect and respect patients' rights and confidentiality.
• Conduct ongoing assessment, data collection, and documentation systematically.
• Participate in the development of unit goals, standards, protocols, and flexible scheduling patterns.
• Engage in self-directed learning and continuing education for personal development.
• Promote an environment that supports caring service, safe patient care, and positive working relationships.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays).
• Traditional federal pension with 5 years vesting and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: Associate degree