Registered Nurse - Perioperative Care

Veterans Health Administration • East Orange, NJ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Veterans Affairs is hiring a Registered Nurse for the Perioperative team at the VA Medical Center in East Orange, New Jersey. The Operating Room (OR) Registered Nurse is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from nursing care provided during surgical and other invasive procedures. The nurse plans, directs, and coordinates care for each patient, respecting the individual and recognizing the contributions of each team member. The role requires proficiency in both circulator and scrub duties and competence across the surgical specialties served.

The OR RN maintains knowledge of current Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives, and service-level standard operating procedures. The nurse helps maintain surgical-field sterility; uses instruments and equipment safely and efficiently; protects patients from injury; performs counts to prevent retained surgical items; participates in the Time Out process; and follows implant and tissue-product documentation and procedures. Responsibilities also include specimen management, safe medication administration, interventions to support wound and tissue perfusion and prevent surgical site infections, and timely, complete, accurate documentation in the electronic health record.

The nurse identifies reusable instruments, equipment, medical devices, and supplies in the clinical area; obtains and follows applicable reusable medical equipment procedures; and consults Sterile Processing or Infection Control as needed. The OR RN is required to take on-call duty during off-tour hours for emergency procedures. The nurse also contributes to developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies and guidelines; supports peers and colleagues through constructive feedback and knowledge sharing; fosters professional development; evaluates evidence-based decisions and practice changes; and documents broad, complex outcomes at the program or service level.

The stated work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with variable shifts. The VA describes a comprehensive total rewards package that includes paid leave and holidays, retirement benefits, insurance options, and potential salary increases and performance awards.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated master's-level bridge or 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; the posting describes a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned nurse grade and level. The listed pathways range from an ADN or nursing diploma with no additional experience for Nurse I, Level I to graduate education and specialized nursing experience for higher grades.
• Be available for on-call duty during off-tour hours for emergency procedures.
• Meet the position's physical and mental/sensory requirements, including lifting, prolonged standing and sitting, bending, walking, climbing, reaching, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, stooping, and the listed communication, reasoning, reading, and keyboarding abilities.
• Meet employment conditions that include U.S. citizenship subject to the stated exception, required background/security checks, pre-employment drug testing for testing-designated positions, and a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and complete the required onboarding and application steps.

Nice To Haves

• Two to three years of operating room nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and coordinate nursing care for patients undergoing surgical and other invasive procedures.
• Function proficiently in both circulator and scrub roles and demonstrate competence in the surgical specialties served.
• Maintain knowledge of AORN standards, VHA directives, and service-level standard operating procedures.
• Maintain the sterility of the surgical field and ensure instruments and equipment are used safely and efficiently.
• Protect patients from chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal injury and from extraneous objects.
• Perform counts to prevent unintended retained surgical items and participate in the Time Out process to verify the correct site, side, and level.
• Follow implant and tissue-product documentation, policies, and procedures; manage specimens appropriately; and administer medications safely and correctly.
• Perform interventions to maintain wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline and protect patients from surgical site infection.
• Document perioperative care promptly, completely, and accurately in the electronic health record.
• Know which reusable instruments, equipment, devices, and supplies are in use; obtain and follow applicable reusable medical equipment procedures; and consult Sterile Processing or Infection Control as needed.
• Provide on-call patient care during off-tour hours for emergency procedures.
• Collaborate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues through knowledge sharing to promote safe, quality nursing care.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment for the professional development of health care professionals.
• Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations.
• Document broad and complex outcomes at the program or service level.

Benefits

• 50 days of paid time off per year, consisting of 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.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.

What This Job Offers

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