Registered Nurse- Critical Care with EDRP

Veterans Health Administration • Temple, TX

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Critical Care Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based nursing care to assigned patients, including direct care for acutely and critically ill patients at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems. The nurse provides high-intensity care and vigilance, combining clinical assessment with information from invasive and noninvasive monitoring technology. The role includes oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting, and may include supporting nursing education, orientation, competency development, and quality-improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.

The nurse demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration with patients, colleagues, and the interdisciplinary team. The position involves evaluating practice against the best available evidence, sharing knowledge and educational findings, providing constructive feedback, supporting colleagues, questioning clinical practices to promote evidence-based care, and contributing to a safe and supportive environment for healthcare professionals. The nurse is expected to integrate theoretical concepts, critical-thinking skills, and technical expertise in relevant clinical situations.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; the VHA program office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years). Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply. Available tours range from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through overnight schedules ending at 8:00 a.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation/recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated VA provisions for bridge-program candidates or graduates of foreign nursing schools.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except for the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned VA nurse grade and level.
• Submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment to be considered for the program; eligibility and approval are determined by the VHA program office.
• Meet federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship requirements subject to VA policy, applicable Selective Service registration, background/security investigation, onboarding requirements, pre-employment physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Submit a transcript when relying on education for qualification; foreign education used to qualify requires the specified foreign-equivalency documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• Two to three years of critical care experience, including experience with ventilators, vasoactive drips, and hemodynamic monitoring.
• Current Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification.
• Participation in Professional Governance.
• Belt/Systems Redesign training, experience, or certification.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and provide quality-improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Provide direct, high-intensity care and vigilance for acutely or critically ill patients at risk for life-threatening health problems.
• Use assessment skills and information from invasive and noninvasive monitoring technology to guide patient care.
• Evaluate nursing practice on an ongoing basis using the best available evidence and provide peers with constructive feedback.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals’ development.
• Contribute the professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary team discussions and collaborate to improve outcomes.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing and share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Question clinical practices and participate in activities that sustain an evidence-based-practice culture.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential loan repayment of up to $200,000 for eligible, approved participants.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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