Registered Nurse- Home Health Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Veterans Health Administration • Richmond, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides home health care for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI), assessing patient symptoms and history and coordinating with the health care team to plan, implement, and evaluate care. The nurse performs triage, provides and stabilizes basic life support as needed, monitors patients, administers and records prescribed medications, and responds to adverse reactions or changes in patient condition. The role also includes maintaining appropriate supplies and medical equipment, initiating physician-prescribed patient education, teaching patients and significant others about illness and injury management and home care, and documenting care accurately and promptly. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, with flexibility to provide off-tour coverage if needed. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an approved school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE, 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; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available for qualifying candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned VA nurse grade and level.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Meet applicable U.S. citizenship requirements; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Complete applicable pre-employment screening, background/security investigation, and onboarding requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable.
• Physical ability for direct patient care, potentially including extended periods of walking, standing, or sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling, and use of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Nice To Haves

• One to three years of acute care, medical-surgical, or acute/rehabilitation spinal cord injury experience.
• Certification in medical-surgical nursing, physical rehabilitation, or another relevant area.

Responsibilities

• Collect current symptoms and detailed patient histories; consult and coordinate with health care team members to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care plans.
• Perform triage while considering physical and psychosocial factors.
• Manage basic life support needs and stabilize patients until the attending physician is available, following nursing standards and protocol.
• Initiate corrective action when monitoring equipment indicates adverse symptoms.
• Record patients’ current vital signs.
• Work directly under physicians.
• Record prescribed medications and report adverse reactions to medications or treatments according to applicable policy.
• Maintain proper supplies and appropriate medical equipment for patient care.
• Initiate patient education plans as prescribed by physicians.
• Teach patients and significant others about illness or injury management, including home care, diet, nutrition, exercise, medication self-administration, and rehabilitation; provide referrals for follow-up care.
• Complete multiple urgent tasks professionally and in a timely manner.
• Document care concisely, accurately, completely, and promptly using the appropriate format and forms.
• Perform other 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 of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• 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
• Education Level: Associate degree