Registered Nurse (CLC)

Veterans Health Administration • Bedford, MA

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The Community Living Center (CLC) Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned residents and oversees licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting. The nurse assists in directing nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation. The role demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration with colleagues and the interdisciplinary team.

The position requires a current, full, active, and unrestricted nursing registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, along with qualifying nursing education from an appropriately accredited program. Grade and level depend on education and professional nursing experience. Work schedule options include multiple tours, to be discussed during the interview. Telework and virtual work are not available.

This is a permanent, open-continuous-announcement position. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and qualified candidates are considered as vacancies arise. Applications remain on file until November 30, 2026. The position may qualify for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and program approval. The position requires a pre-employment physical and annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated provisions for bridge-program candidates and foreign-educated nurses.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable education and professional nursing experience criteria for the assigned grade and level.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as TB screening or testing.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Complete required background/security investigation and onboarding; applicants selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment drug testing.
• Males born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, and periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities based on patient needs, and potentially work with combative patients or in isolation situations requiring protective clothing.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned residents.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities.
• Provide quality-improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Demonstrate leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration.
• Provide peers with informal, constructive feedback for improvement.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment for the professional development of healthcare professionals.
• Contribute a professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary-team discussions.
• Partner with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Question clinical practices to support evidence-based care.
• Participate in activities and strategies that sustain an evidence-based-practice culture.
• Collaborate with the Minimum Data Set (MDS) coordinator to ensure documentation is accurate and reflects the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) score.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and 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, comprising 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: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree