Registered Nurse (Intensive Care Unit)

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The ICU Registered Nurse delivers comprehensive care to critically ill patients in a mixed Intensive Care Unit serving medical, surgical, and cardiac populations, including patients with complex cardiac and heart failure conditions. ICU nurses use specialized skills to care for unstable, high-acuity patients and are considered a hospital-wide resource.

The nurse independently provides complex patient care, performs assessments and reassessments, monitors and documents patient status, administers medications and treatments, responds to emergencies, and coordinates interdisciplinary care and discharge or transfer planning. The role also includes managing routine patient-care operations and supporting the clinical development of nursing students and new hires.

This is a rotating schedule covering days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Compressed or flexible scheduling is authorized. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The role is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated bridge-program or foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. A temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level. Requirements vary by grade and include qualifying ADN, diploma, BSN, MSN, related master's, or doctoral education and, where specified, professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Ability to perform the position's physical activities without restriction, including standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, turning, repositioning and transferring patients, and potentially pushing or lifting more than 50 pounds.
• Ability to provide safe and effective nursing care with the required visual and auditory acuity.
• Ability to work in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and physically control or protect oneself from physically abusive patients.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Selected applicants must undergo required pre-employment screening and processes, including drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and seasonal influenza vaccination program participation.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of ICU experience in SICU, MICU, or CVICU.
• Familiarity with LVADs, Impellas, IABPs, CRRT, and ventilators.
• CCRN certification.

Responsibilities

• Complete admission assessments for assigned patients within 24 hours of admission.
• Reassess patients every four hours and as needed to identify rapidly changing conditions.
• Transcribe provider orders in CPRS and check orders in CPRS at least every two hours.
• Take verbal and telephone orders in accordance with policy.
• Complete patient care plans according to policy.
• Document vital signs and assessments according to SOP using CPRS and/or Essentris.
• Document medications using BCMA (Bar Code Medication Administration).
• Plan patient discharges and transfers, including completing notes in Essentris/CPRS.
• Independently provide care for complex ICU patients.
• Initiate referrals and consultations as appropriate to support interdisciplinary care.
• Recognize significant changes in patient status and communicate them appropriately to providers and the care team.
• Respond to emergent situations in accordance with ACLS guidelines.
• Safely perform moderate sedation and out-of-OR recoveries according to policy.
• Provide complex care for critically ill medical and surgical patients, including cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring; titration of high-risk cardiac and vasoactive medications; management of ventilators, CPAP, BIPAP, and high-flow nasal cannula; care involving advanced cardiac, renal replacement, and neurologic devices; postoperative management; and care for patients in various types of shock.
• Manage routine daily patient-care operations by delegating, supervising, troubleshooting, and evaluating.
• Participate in clinical supervision of nursing students and new hires by role-modeling and communicating objectives and expected competencies.

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.
• 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
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree