Registered Nurse - Community Living Center

Veterans Health Administration • Milwaukee, WI

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Milwaukee VA Medical Center is seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) for the Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Service within their Community Living Center (CLC). The position is located on Valor Point (9A), a unit comprising two programs: Transitional Care (short-stay, less than 90 days) and the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP, with length of stay determined by care goals). The CLC RN is a vital member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, responsible for providing age-friendly, comprehensive nursing care to Veterans in the GEC setting. This role involves close collaboration with nursing assistants, licensed providers, and other disciplines to ensure holistic, patient-centered care across the continuum. The position emphasizes compassionate service, clinical excellence, and strong partnerships with Veterans and their families to achieve exceptional patient experiences and outcomes.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• Note: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in the long-term care or sub-acute rehabilitation setting.

Responsibilities

• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates all care based on age-specific components, considering the individual's age, life stages, state of health, race, culture, values, and previous experiences.
• Assumes responsibility for coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care, including patient and family education and supporting patient self-management after discharge.
• Administers medications and performs procedures per established policies and guidelines, including daily and weekly skin assessments and monitoring and documenting pain and pain interventions.
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and participates in unit/program level quality improvement activities.
• Establishes therapeutic relationships with patients, engaging patients, families, and caregivers to incorporate knowledge, values, and beliefs into care planning without judgment or discrimination.
• Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives and unit-based educational activities for personal and professional growth.
• Maintains compliance with all education and competency requirements to support organizational goals and objectives.
• Contributes to facility accreditation readiness for all regulatory or survey bodies and articulates standards of care, policies, and performance improvement data as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

What This Job Offers

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