Registered Nurse - Surgery Clinic

Veterans Health Administration • Marion, IL

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Marion VA Health Care System is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse to join the Specialty Clinic within Nursing Services in Marion, Illinois. The Clinic RN provides safe, compassionate, evidence-based nursing care to Veterans in an outpatient clinical setting as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team. The RN is responsible for assessment, care coordination, patient education, clinical triage, and follow-up care within the scope of practice, applicable policies, and professional standards.

The position follows a Monday through Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. Telework is not available, and this is not a virtual position. Because the hospital operates 24/7, the position may require flexibility in schedule and assignments, including rotating tours and duties during low or high census, or completing administrative tasks assigned by the immediate supervisor.

The position requires current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification that includes Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training and is obtained through the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Treatment Training Network (MTN). Selected applicants must provide proof of current certification before employment. Candidates must meet the applicable nursing education and licensure requirements and the grade-level criteria for the appointment. The work may involve substantial time standing and other physical activity associated with direct patient care.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or qualifying nursing education under the stated bridge-program or foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN registration in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to candidates pursuing licensure.
• Current BLS certification, including AED, obtained through the American Heart Association or Military Treatment Training Network; proof is required before employment.
• Meet the education and professional nursing experience criteria for the grade and level of appointment.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use, a background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation; seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete the online onboarding process and all application requirements, and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Be able to perform physical activities associated with nursing duties, potentially including long periods of walking, standing, and sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling, and use safe patient handling and mobility protocols.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an outpatient setting within the last five years.
• Experience in a specialty area such as podiatry, urology, wound care, orthopedics, or general surgery.
• At least three years of nursing experience.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments, including psychosocial, functional, and health-risk assessments.
• Provide direct nursing care, including medication administration, treatments, wound care, injections, specimen collection, patient monitoring, and other clinic-based procedures.
• Recognize changes in patient condition and initiate appropriate interventions, escalation, emergency response, and provider notification.
• Use clinical judgment to prioritize care and manage multiple patients and competing demands.
• Respond to patient calls, secure messages, walk-ins, and other clinical inquiries; obtain and document pertinent information, determine urgency, provide nursing advice within scope, and coordinate timely follow-up.
• Coordinate care among providers, services, facilities, caregivers, and community resources.
• Track referrals, diagnostic testing, consultations, hospitalizations, and follow-up appointments.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, caregivers, providers, and interdisciplinary team members while maintaining confidentiality and complying with privacy, security, and information-management requirements.
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, infection prevention, risk management, and performance measurement activities.
• Rotate tours and duties during low or high census, or complete administrative tasks established by the immediate supervisor, as required.

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 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.

What This Job Offers

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