Registered Nurse - Critical Care

Veterans Health Administration • Wilkes Barre, PA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Critical Care Registered Nurse (RN) provides nursing care to acutely and critically ill medical and surgical patients who require continuous and concentrated monitoring, including patients in ICU, PCU, and Telemetry settings. The role calls for broad clinical leadership, experience, creative approaches to complex care, expert technical practice, and strong critical-thinking skills. The nurse collaborates in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines; supports peers through constructive feedback and knowledge sharing; and fosters a safe, supportive environment for professional development.

The RN monitors and troubleshoots cardiac telemetry, responds to rhythm events, establishes or changes alarm parameters, and obtains rhythm strips for the electronic chart. The role also includes caring for patients with acute stroke, altered consciousness, acute medical illness with psychiatric or safety precautions, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, sepsis, and respiratory distress syndromes. The nurse educates patients and families about cardiac monitoring, treatment, health issues, and concerns, adapting education to their needs and educational level. Assistance may also be provided to the Emergency Department, Triage, 4 East, Ward 9, and the Community Living Center, along with other duties as assigned.

The position requires a current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing registration in a U.S. state or territory, or the District of Columbia, and graduation from an appropriately accredited professional nursing program, subject to the stated exceptions. English proficiency is required for direct patient care. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certifications must be maintained. Critical care experience is preferred. The role has a scheduled shift of either 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. or 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership, experience, and creative approaches to managing complex patient care.
• Professional nursing education from a school accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time the program was completed, subject to the stated bridge-program and foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Maintain Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Maintain Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level, which vary by grade and level.

Nice To Haves

• Critical care experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care to medical and surgical patients requiring continuous and concentrated monitoring, including Telemetry patients.
• Recall and respond to arrhythmia events in ICU and Telemetry; establish or adjust alarm parameters; obtain a rhythm strip each shift for scanning into the electronic chart; and troubleshoot signal problems.
• Educate patients about the reasons, purpose, and restrictions associated with cardiac monitoring and telemetry.
• Provide care to patients with acute stroke and altered levels of consciousness.
• Care for psychiatric patients with acute medical illness, including patients on Suicide, Violence, or Eloper precautions.
• Assess and care for patients with congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, sepsis, and respiratory distress syndromes.
• Provide patient health education to patients and families about current treatment, health issues, and concerns, in accordance with their educational level.
• Collaborate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to health care professionals’ development.
• Provide assistance to the Emergency Department, Triage, 4 East, Ward 9, and the Community Living Center as needed.
• Maintain ACLS and BCLS certifications.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting, and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; 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