Registered Nurse- Progressive Care

Veterans Health Administration • Des Moines, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Progressive Care Registered Nurse assists in directing nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation. The nurse provides direct care to acutely ill patients who are moderately stable but at elevated risk for instability, requiring high-intensity care and vigilance.

The role applies the nursing process with close supervision and delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care while developing technical skills. Care is planned and evaluated using age-specific considerations, and coordinated around patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction. The nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, delegates appropriate elements of care, and builds therapeutic relationships with patients and families. The position also involves maintaining competency through unit-based education and continuing education.

This is a part-time, 0.9 FTE position on a night schedule from 1930 to 0800, with alternating weekends and holidays. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized. Preferred experience is inpatient nursing experience. The VA describes its care model as a Whole Health System focused on personalized health plans, healing relationships and environments, and connection to the Veteran’s community.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable qualifying nursing education pathway described in the posting.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an eligible Graduate Nurse Technician temporary appointment exception is described.
• Meet the education and experience criteria applicable to the assigned VA Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Subject to urinalysis drug screening for applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions; refusing testing results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation and completion of online onboarding.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; beginning May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards cannot be used as acceptable identification.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements specified in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Inpatient nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Apply the nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation, with close supervision.
• Deliver fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical skills.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care using age-specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction.
• Administer medications and procedures according to established policies.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Develop plans of care based on nursing assessments and seek guidance to improve care for patients and families.
• Delegate elements of care to appropriate individuals based on patient needs, condition, and safety.
• Establish therapeutic relationships to help patients attain, maintain, or regain optimal function through assessment and treatment.
• Engage patients, families, and caregivers in care planning while incorporating their knowledge, values, and beliefs without judgment or discrimination.
• Use positive, effective communication and professional behaviors that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers.
• Provide age-appropriate care and services to young, middle-aged, and late-maturity adults, considering cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation.
• Maintain competency through unit-based educational activities and continuing education requirements for professional growth.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Provide high-intensity care and vigilance to acutely ill patients who are moderately stable but at elevated risk for instability.

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.
• 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: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree