Registered Nurse - Inpatient D2 Med-Surg

Veterans Health Administration • Johnson City, TN

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse assigned to D2 provides competent, evidence-based nursing care to assigned patients and may oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. The nurse is accountable for all elements of the nursing process while providing or supervising direct patient care, coordinating care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction, and administering medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines.

The role contributes to nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation. The nurse demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, evaluates practice using best evidence, and supports colleagues through knowledge sharing and constructive feedback. The nurse helps foster a safe, supportive environment for professional development and participates in evidence-based practice and strategies to improve patient outcomes.

The position is accountable to assigned rating and approving supervisors and to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services. It requires courteous, respectful communication with patients, visitors, volunteers, and Medical Center staff; consistent information in accordance with policy; and constructive handling of customer concerns. The position serves adult and elderly veterans in an interdisciplinary medical center setting. Work is full-time on a night schedule from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., with alternating weekends. Telework and virtual work are not available.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying foreign nursing education and credential evaluation as applicable.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse license 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 nursing-practice dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity; periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting 10 pounds or more, and pushing; and possible patient or object transfers.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and maintain flexibility and sound judgment.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination; a probationary period may be required.
• Submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking participation in the Education Debt Reduction Program.

Nice To Haves

• One year of Med-Surg experience.
• Inpatient hospital experience within the last three years.

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care, applying all elements of the nursing process.
• Coordinate patient care with a focus on education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Lead and improve holistic care through collaboration with others and the interdisciplinary team.
• Evaluate practice on an ongoing basis using best evidence and provide peers with constructive feedback.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals’ development.
• Share knowledge, educational findings, experiences, and ideas with colleagues to support safe, quality nursing care.
• Question clinical practices and participate in strategies to sustain evidence-based practice.
• Communicate courteously and respectfully with patients, visitors, volunteers, and Medical Center staff; provide consistent information and handle customer concerns constructively.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to individual eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• 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 VA contributions.
• 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