Registered Nurse - ICU - Critical Care

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

10h • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) in Critical Care delivers competent, evidence-based care to critically ill patients and provides oversight to LVNs and nursing assistants. The nurse supports education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement initiatives, and demonstrates leadership in advancing holistic, collaborative care. The role provides direct care to patients at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening conditions in any clinical setting.

The RN is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and supervising direct patient care. The RN coordinates care across the continuum, emphasizing patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction. The nurse administers medications and procedures according to established policies and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence quality outcomes. Core performance elements include active participation in unit-based quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs.

The work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, rotating. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. Relocation, recruitment incentives, EDRP, and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Graduate from a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or meet the stated alternative education provisions for bridge-program candidates or foreign nursing graduates.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted registered-nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Demonstrate basic written and spoken English proficiency.
• Meet the applicable education and professional nursing experience criteria for the assigned grade and level; requirements vary by grade and include ADN/diploma, BSN, MSN, or doctoral education and specified experience.
• Meet physical requirements that include heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, pushing and pulling, reaching above the shoulder, finger use, use of both hands, walking and standing up to eight hours, repeated bending, and rapid simultaneous mental and muscular coordination; hearing aids are permitted.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Submit to urinalysis for illegal drug screening if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Comply with Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Be subject to a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process and application requirements.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of inpatient clinical nursing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-intensity care and vigilance to critically ill patients, refining assessments and integrating data from invasive and noninvasive monitoring technology.
• Evaluate practice on an ongoing basis using the best available evidence.
• Provide peers with informal, constructive feedback to support improvement.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals’ development.
• Contribute a professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary team discussions.
• Partner with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes.
• Share knowledge with colleagues to support safe, quality nursing care.
• Share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Question clinical practices to support evidence-based care.
• Participate in activities and strategies that sustain an evidence-based-practice culture.
• Provide and supervise direct patient care, taking accountability for all elements of the nursing process.
• Coordinate care across the continuum, emphasizing patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction.
• Administer medications and procedures according to established policies.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to influence quality outcomes.
• Participate in unit-based quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs.
• Provide oversight to LVNs and nursing assistants, and support education, orientation, and competency development.

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 and a 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.

What This Job Offers

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