Registered Nurse - Community Living Center

Veterans Health Administration • Tacoma, WA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based, resident-centered care in a Community Living Center (CLC), including comprehensive physical, psychological, and social assessments; early detection of clinical changes; and development and evaluation of measurable care outcomes. The nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary colleagues and the Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinator to support accurate documentation and resource utilization. The position also contributes to nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and a safe, supportive environment for healthcare professionals.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility requirements and timely application. Award amounts may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years; approval and award terms are determined after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible. Day and evening shifts are available: 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, and virtual work are not available. Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates; permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated education and foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, unless appointed under the Graduate Nurse Technician exception while pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Selected applicants must undergo required drug screening, background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation; influenza vaccination participation is required for VA healthcare personnel.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete the application requirements in the announcement’s Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• One to two years of nursing experience.
• Previous long-term-care experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned residents and oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Demonstrate leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration with others.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues through knowledge sharing.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals’ development.
• Contribute the professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary team discussions and partner with others to improve outcomes.
• Share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers; question clinical practices to promote evidence-based care.
• Develop realistic, measurable outcomes for identified patient needs and evaluate progress toward those outcomes.
• Participate in activities and strategies that sustain an evidence-based-practice culture.
• Use resources appropriately to support maximization and fiscal responsibility.
• Collaborate with the MDS coordinator to ensure documentation is accurate and reflective of the RUG score.
• Document care according to policies, procedures, and Resident Assessment Instrument/Minimum Data Set requirements.
• Perform comprehensive physical, psychological, and social assessments; detect early clinical changes; and prioritize actual and potential problems and needs.
• Provide resident-centered care in accordance with CLC guidelines and principles of practice.

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 a 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.
• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000.
• Relocation or recruitment incentives may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

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