Registered Nurse (Nephrology)

Veterans Health Administration • Mather AFB, CA

9h • Onsite

About The Position

The Nephrology Registered Nurse is accountable for all elements of the nursing process while providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse provides leadership to the clinical team in delivering interprofessional care to patients with complex nephrology needs, and oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.

The role includes maintaining safe, well-organized clinical areas; coordinating clinic assignments; and ensuring adequate supplies and sterile instruments. The nurse also monitors and documents environmental temperature and humidity for refrigerators and relevant supplies and devices, and ensures items are stored and rotated according to expiration dates and compliance standards.

This is a permanent, non-virtual position with a Monday–Friday schedule of 0800–1630. Telework and relocation or recruitment incentives are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to its eligibility and application requirements. The VA offers competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards, paid time off, federal retirement and insurance benefits, and licensure support.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an eligible equivalent education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to otherwise qualified candidates pursuing licensure.
• Must meet the applicable education and experience criteria for the assigned VA nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Must meet Selective Service registration requirements where applicable.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation and complete online onboarding and required application documentation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Physical ability to meet the role’s demands, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and potentially prolonged walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; patient and object transfers may be required.
• Ability to discern different alarms and to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and remain flexible and sensible.
• May be exposed to infected patients, contaminated materials, isolation or procedure settings requiring protective clothing, and occasionally combative patients.

Nice To Haves

• Outpatient dialysis clinic experience.
• Inpatient dialysis experience.
• Two or more years of RN experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing care for patients with complex care needs using the nursing process and ANA standards of nursing practice.
• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate.
• Apply clinical knowledge and judgment to lead staff participation in planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes in the immediate practice setting.
• Function as a leader in the immediate practice setting and demonstrate outcomes.
• Improve patient-driven care by addressing issues involving care coordination, timeliness, processes, recurring dissatisfaction, or the care environment.
• Incorporate patients’ and families’ knowledge, values, and beliefs into care without judgment or discrimination.
• Serve as a resource for patients, caregivers, and staff in addressing ethical issues.
• Lead implementation of high-reliability principles and I CARE values to improve consistency of care and patient outcomes.
• Ensure clinic task assignments are appropriately delegated and completed to support a safe environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
• Ensure exam rooms, procedural suites, and supply rooms are clean, orderly, and fully stocked by the end of each day.
• Maintain inventory and supply lists and ensure adequate supplies and sterile instruments.
• Ensure supplies and sterile instruments are appropriately stored and rotated according to expiration dates and compliance standards.
• Ensure compliance with and documentation of environmental temperature and humidity monitoring for refrigerators and applicable consumable, reusable, or loaned supplies and devices.

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.
• One full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory.
• Education Debt Reduction Program student-loan payment reimbursement, up to $200,000, subject to program eligibility, approval, and application requirements.

What This Job Offers

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