Registered Nurse (Nursing Officer of the Day)

Veterans Health Administration • Kansas City, MO

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Kansas City VA Medical Center is recruiting a Registered Nurse serving as the Nursing Officer of the Day (NOD) in Nursing Acute Care. The NOD adheres to established policies and standards of care and practice, demonstrates leadership in developing and implementing programs to improve patient care, and serves as a steward of nursing practice and a coordinator and facilitator of complex interdisciplinary care.

The role manages day-to-day operations and long-term planning for the patient care area, directs and develops staff, collaborates with physicians and multidisciplinary professionals, and provides physical and psychological support to patients and their families. During non-administrative tours of duty, the NOD is accountable for the overall administration of Nursing in the absence of the Associate Director of Patient Care Services. With appropriate consultation, the role exercises judgment in administrative matters and performs other assigned duties. Scope of supervision and responsibility depends on the service or service-line assignment.

Practice is based on the nursing process and evidence-based research. The NOD organizes care delivery, applies advanced clinical knowledge and judgment, supports staff participation in planning and evaluating outcomes, serves as an expert in clinical practice or assigned areas, develops staff through leadership, and evaluates programs and service activities using professional standards and scientific evidence.

This is a varied-night-shift position. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying Graduate Nurse Technician appointments are described as an exception for candidates pursuing licensure.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying alternative education pathways specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the applicable Nurse grade and level requirements for scope, education, and professional nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions must undergo pre-employment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation, online onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period and must complete the application requirements in the announcement.
• Physical ability requirements include visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, prolonged or repeated lifting, walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient or object transfers may be required, and the incumbent must be able to lift and/or move over 45 pounds.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, communicate spoken information, assess visual characteristics and subtle changes in individuals and groups, and view and read information on computer screens.
• May be exposed to infected patients, contaminated materials, combative patients, and, on a short-term basis, fumes, dust, and other debris; protective clothing may be required in isolation or operative/invasive settings.

Nice To Haves

• Two to three years of acute-care nursing experience.
• ACLS/BLS.
• Supervisory or leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop day-to-day management and long-term plans for the patient care area.
• Direct and develop staff and collaborate with physicians and multidisciplinary professional staff.
• Provide physical and psychological support for patients, friends, and families.
• Administer Nursing in the absence of the Associate Director of Patient Care Services during non-administrative tours of duty, and exercise judgment in administrative matters with appropriate consultation.
• Lead and organize care delivery to ensure continuity, access to care, discharge planning, and peer accountability for practice.
• Use advanced clinical knowledge and judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Guide, develop, and support staff from a leadership perspective; support the professional growth of others.
• Evaluate programs and service activities using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through educational workshops, publications, professional networks, and professional societies.
• Develop and interpret infection-control policies and protocols; enforce medication-administration and storage procedures and controlled-substance regulations.
• Protect patient confidentiality by monitoring confidential information processing.
• Assure quality of care by developing and interpreting care philosophies and standards, enforcing applicable nursing and regulatory requirements, measuring outcomes, and making or recommending adjustments.
• Participate in emergency preparedness activities, codes, and drills; guide and evaluate team processes and ensure events are documented.
• Manage and prioritize patient-care needs and ensure assigned tasks are completed.
• Lead staff in identifying, analyzing, and addressing ethical issues; serve as a resource for resolving ethical issues in the immediate practice setting.
• Lead teams, contribute to team conferences, and collaborate throughout patient-care planning.
• Integrate objectives, opportunities, and resources.
• Take responsibility for personal and professional career goals.
• Lead initiatives to expand methods for identifying and applying patient preferences in shared care-delivery decisions.

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
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree