Registered Nurse - Community Living Center Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Columbia, MO

7h • Onsite

About The Position

This is a full-time Registered Nurse position providing long-term and continuing care in the Community Living Center (CLC) at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. The nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care. The role includes assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating age-specific care; coordinating care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care; administering medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines; and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.

The CLC RN demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to managing complex resident care. The nurse collaborates on the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and guidelines; helps improve care for groups of residents; provides constructive feedback and knowledge sharing to support safe, quality nursing care; and fosters an environment that supports the professional development of health care professionals. The role evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes and is accountable for documented program- or service-level outcomes. The CLC RN also collaborates with the Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinator to ensure accuracy of the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) score.

The position is full-time, with a 1930–0800/1130–2400 day/evening rotating schedule, including an every-other-weekend and holiday commitment. Telework is not available. The position is not virtual, and relocation or recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to VHA eligibility and approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; award amount and eligibility period are determined after review. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Applicants must meet VA nursing education and licensure requirements, including English-language proficiency and current, full, active, unrestricted nursing registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated exceptions. The announcement describes qualification pathways across Nurse I Levels I–III and Nurse II–III, with education and experience requirements varying by grade and level. Long-term care experience is preferred.

Requirements

• Demonstrated proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately approved and accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable stated education exception.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated GNT exception.
• Meet the applicable VA grade-level education and experience criteria; requirements vary by Nurse I level and Nurse II or III grade.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if subject to the requirement for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete a background/security investigation, onboarding, and application requirements listed in the announcement.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Long-term care experience is preferred, not required.

Nice To Haves

• Long-term care experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care, taking responsibility for all elements of the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age-specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.
• Manage complex resident care using leadership, experience, and creative approaches.
• Collaborate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Demonstrate performance and leadership that improve care for groups of residents.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues through knowledge sharing to promote safe, quality nursing care.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
• Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations.
• Maintain responsibility for documented outcomes at the program or service level.
• Collaborate with the MDS coordinator to ensure accuracy of the RUG score.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility, application, and program approval; potential award up to $200,000 for 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.
• 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 is accepted for licensure.

What This Job Offers

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