Registered Nurse (Acute Care, 5 East)

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides acute care on the 5 East unit. The nurse is accountable for individual nursing practice, delegates tasks appropriately, and delivers safe, effective care while developing and maintaining technical competencies. The position includes patient assessment, care planning, implementation and evaluation, patient and family education, timely documentation, and collaboration with nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses.

Clinical duties include administering medications using barcode medication administration, providing complex wound care, administering blood products and IV therapies, and managing telemetry. Nurses must complete required training and pass applicable exams before performing specialty duties such as continuous bladder irrigation, epidural or peripheral nerve catheter medication administration, chest tube care, transfusions, tracheostomy care, chemotherapy or biotherapy administration, and EEG monitoring. Telemetry training and an exam score of at least 80% must be completed within the first six months on an acute care unit.

This is a night-shift position with compressed scheduling, rotating weekends and holidays. Telework and remote work are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval; awards may be up to $200,000. Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated VA provisions for bridge-program candidates or foreign nursing graduates.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except where the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception applies.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation; selected applicants are subject to drug testing, background/security investigation, and onboarding requirements.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements where applicable.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of prior acute care medical/surgical unit experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide safe care to assigned patients and remain accountable for individual nursing practice.
• Determine and delegate tasks appropriately, including working with nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses and following up on delegated tasks.
• Maintain competencies and complete required duties, trainings, in-services, and staff meeting participation.
• Use patient-care equipment safely and effectively, and perform nursing procedures correctly and safely.
• Recognize abnormal signs, symptoms, and changes in patient condition and respond appropriately.
• Implement provider orders and nursing interventions in a timely and complete manner.
• Formulate and update plans of care using nursing assessments and the nursing process, involving patients and their families or significant others in setting goals.
• Assess patients' learning needs, preferences, and readiness; provide basic health teaching and discharge planning.
• Document care accurately, concisely, and promptly, and evaluate and document patient responses and progress toward goals.
• Use the Electronic Health Record according to policy and deliver medications using barcode medication administration.
• Provide complex wound care; administer ordered blood products, IV fluids, TPN, lipids, PCA, and multiple IV medications while checking compatibility.
• Complete required training and documentation before performing specialty skills, including continuous bladder irrigation, epidural or peripheral nerve catheter medication administration, chest tube care, transfusions, and tracheostomy care.
• Complete cardiac telemetry training and pass the exam with a score of at least 80% within the first six months on an acute care unit; monitor telemetry and respond promptly to rhythm changes in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Complete chemotherapy/biotherapy training and pass the exam before administering ordered chemotherapy or biotherapies; complete EEG monitoring training before monitoring EEG.
• Request assistance from coworkers when needed and recognize when help is required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, subject to program requirements and approval, with awards up to $200,000.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• 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.
• Licensure coverage for one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.

What This Job Offers

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