Registered Nurse - Inpatient Care (8D)

Veterans Health Administration • Buffalo, NY

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Buffalo VA Medical Center is seeking a qualified full-time Registered Nurse (Nights) for the Acute Care Department (Inpatient - 8D). The Acute Care Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, provides direct and indirect nursing care to patients and families in a nursing care unit/area. The incumbent is accountable for adhering to established policies, standards of care and standards of practice. The staff nurse demonstrates leadership when providing and improving patient care. The incumbent reports directly to the Nurse Manager of the patient care unit/area and serves as a role model when functioning as team leader or charge nurse under the supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee. The incumbent will be responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assume responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing ( ACEN ) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( CCNE )
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.
• The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• BSN preferred.
• BLS / ACLS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and treat a patient's unique responses to diagnosed health problems
• Perform health assessments to identify new symptoms of possibly undiagnosed conditions or complications
• Teach and counsel patients about maintenance of health and prevention of illness or complications
• Execute medical regimens as prescribed by licensed physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and podiatrists, and contribute as members of an interdisciplinary health care team and as consultants on health-related committees to plan and implement the health care needs of consumers.
• Assist, through in-depth assessment, a patient's ability to adapt to new situations and circumstances created by changes in health status.
• Teach and counsel on health procedures, emotional adjustment and adaptation of the patient and their families.
• Identify, through case-finding and critical analysis, a patient's, families, or community's deviation from health and wellbeing and advocate for, initiate and recommend appropriate actions including the establishment of safe environments.
• Manage and deliver restorative or palliative care to the ill, disabled and dying.
• Participate in research, shaping health policy and inpatient and health systems management, and embrace fundamental values and obligations beyond that of a private citizen including ethical obligations and a recognition of patients' rights to confidentiality.
• Completing and documenting nursing assessments, seeking assistance to identify priority needs.
• Developing the initial nursing plan of care and updating plan with assistance as needed.
• Addressing patient safety needs when communicating patient care needs to other nursing staff and disciplines.
• Safely and effectively using equipment required for patient care, including: Procedures for cleaning, transporting and storing reusable medical equipment (RME)
• Adhering to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care (proper hand washing techniques, use of PPE).
• Recognizing actual or potential changes in condition and response to treatment, initiating appropriate action and revising the plan of care accordingly.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

What This Job Offers

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