Registered Nurse - Spinal Cord Injury & Disorder

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) in Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI/D) provides competent, evidence-based care and oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. The RN supports nursing education, orientation, and competency development while contributing to quality improvement and outcomes-focused initiatives. The role demonstrates leadership in delivering holistic care and improving patient outcomes through effective collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

The RN is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and supervising direct patient care. The role coordinates care throughout the continuum with a focus on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction. Responsibilities include administering medications and procedures in accordance with established policies, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to influence positive care outcomes, and participating in quality improvement and customer service initiatives at the unit and program level.

This is a full-time position with rotating day and night tours. Holidays and weekends are part of the schedule. Telework and virtual work are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying 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 qualifying candidates pursuing licensure.
• A full and unrestricted nursing license from any U.S. State or territory.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria applicable to the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation; applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Comply with applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, Selective Service, and application-document requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care and remain accountable for all elements of the nursing process.
• Coordinate care throughout the continuum, focusing on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to influence positive care outcomes and contribute the professional nursing perspective to team discussions.
• Provide oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants.
• Support nursing education, orientation, and competency development.
• Participate in quality improvement and customer service initiatives at the unit and program level.
• Evaluate nursing practice on an ongoing basis using the best available evidence and question clinical practices to support evidence-based care.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and share knowledge, educational findings, experiences, and ideas.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals' development.
• Partner with colleagues to effect change and achieve optimal outcomes, and participate in strategies that sustain evidence-based practice.

Benefits

• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days 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.
• Regular salary increases and potential performance awards.
• Competitive salary.

What This Job Offers

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