Registered Nurse - Emergency Department

Veterans Health Administration • Fort Meade, SD

2d • Onsite

About The Position

VA Black Hills Health Care System is hiring an Emergency Department Registered Nurse to provide timely, compassionate care to Veterans with urgent and life-threatening health conditions. The nurse works in a fast-paced emergency setting with an interdisciplinary team, caring for patients with medical, surgical, and psychiatric emergencies and contributing to stabilization, treatment, and positive patient outcomes. The role offers opportunities to develop emergency and critical care expertise, assessment and decision-making skills, and professional practice. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and program approval. It is a permanent, non-virtual position with a rotating schedule of 12-hour shifts supporting 24/7 operations. Holiday assignments are required; compressed or flexible scheduling is available, and telework is not available.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or another qualifying nursing education pathway described in the posting.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician temporary appointment exception may apply to otherwise eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; participate in seasonal influenza vaccination; and complete onboarding and application requirements.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Work rotating 12-hour shifts to support 24/7 operations, including required holiday assignments.

Nice To Haves

• Emergency room experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assess and prioritize Veterans with urgent and emergent conditions using the five-level Emergency Severity Index triage system.
• Provide emergency nursing care for acute and chronic medical, surgical, and psychiatric conditions.
• Perform critical interventions, including stabilization, resuscitation, and life-support measures.
• Perform specialized emergency and critical care interventions, including hemodynamic monitoring and cardiovascular medication management.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans based on assessments, patient needs, and responses to treatment.
• Administer prescribed medications, perform nursing procedures, and monitor patient responses.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members to support timely interventions, continuity of care, and clinical decision-making.
• Educate Veterans and their families about health conditions, treatment plans, and self-management strategies.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with potential reimbursement of up to $200,000 subject to eligibility and approval.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays per year.
• Federal pension and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement savings, with agency contributions and matching as described in the posting.
• Health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance.
• Premium pay for overtime, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, on-call, and night work.
• Incentive and recognition awards.
• Paid parental leave, organ donor leave, military leave, and disabled veteran leave.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Leave Sharing Program.
• Child Care Subsidies.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellness and physical fitness programs.
• Transit subsidies.
• Continuing education opportunities.
• Compressed or flexible scheduling is available.

What This Job Offers

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