Registered Nurse-Pain Management

Veterans Health Administration • Gainesville, FL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Malcolm Randall VA Medical Center is hiring a Pain Management Registered Nurse (RN). The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice, including providing patient-specific pain education to patients and families about routine and complex procedures and determining appropriate delegation of tasks to provide optimal care. The role provides leadership to a clinical support team caring for patients with complex pain-related needs and uses clinical knowledge and experience to identify the primary source of patient problems. The nurse supports procedural sedation for patients with complex medical needs, mentors and teaches nurses and other healthcare professionals, and contributes to evidence-based quality improvement. This opportunity is open only to current permanent VA employees of the North Florida/South Georgia facility. The position follows a Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. schedule. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited professional nursing program, or qualifying equivalent nursing education as specified in the posting.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Demonstrated experience in pain management, including assessment and management of patients with chronic pain conditions.
• Knowledge of moderate sedation practices, patient monitoring, airway management principles, and emergency response protocols.
• Ability to prioritize workload and work independently in a fast-paced ambulatory care environment while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission requirements, VHA directives, infection prevention practices, and patient safety standards applicable to outpatient procedural settings.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification, or ability to obtain them within the facility-established timeframe.
• Commitment to patient-centered care, customer service excellence, and VA ICARE values.
• Flexibility and adaptability to support clinic operations, procedural areas, and changing organizational priorities.
• Meet applicable grade-level education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned nursing grade.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must complete required pre-employment testing, onboarding, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and applicable employee health requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• Must meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of recent ambulatory care, outpatient specialty clinic, pain management, moderate sedation, or procedural nursing experience.
• Experience caring for patients undergoing minimally invasive pain procedures, including pre-procedure preparation, intra-procedure assistance, and post-procedure recovery.
• Experience with medication management, including high-risk medications commonly used in pain management, and providing comprehensive patient education about medications and treatment plans.
• Experience participating in quality improvement initiatives, performance improvement activities, or evidence-based practice projects.
• Experience using electronic health records, preferably the VA Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-specific pain education to patients and families regarding routine and complex procedures.
• Determine appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimal care.
• Lead the clinical support team in interprofessional care for patients with complex pain-related needs.
• Assess patients and identify the primary source of problems based on clinical knowledge and experience with pain.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and intervene appropriately.
• Educate patients and caregivers about pain management strategies, procedural expectations, discharge instructions, and follow-up care.
• Lead evidence-based quality improvement activities related to pain management and measure outcomes.
• Assist providers with procedural sedation for patients with complex medical needs, including persistent pain.
• Mentor, teach, and precept nurses and other healthcare professionals in caring for patients with complex pain.
• Support clinic operations and procedural areas while adapting to changing organizational priorities.
• Maintain patient safety and quality of care in a fast-paced ambulatory care environment.

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 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.
• One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory is accepted.

What This Job Offers

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