The 3 West RN is a professional who manages the care of the acutely ill postoperative surgical, neurology, and medicine patient through collaboration with nursing staff, physicians and other health care providers. The nurse coordinates and facilitates care to restore stability, minimizing complications, and achieve optimal patient outcomes within a dynamic, acute care environment. 3 West is an inpatient unit, which operates 24 hours per day 7 days a week caring for veteran patients.

Duties

Major Duties: Documentation - Completes admission assessment on assigned patients within 24 hours of admission - Conducts ongoing and/or urgent reassessments to determine rapidly changing conditions of patients - Verifies physicians' orders using CPRS - Takes telephone orders per policy - Completes patient care plans according to policy - Plans for discharge/transfer of patients including completing discharge/transfer note in CPRS - Administers medications and documents in BCMA Clinical Practice - Provides individualized patient care - Is proactive in identifying potential crisis situations and responds appropriately in emergency/code situations - Initiates referrals and/or consultations - Functions independently in performing more complex treatments, procedures and advanced technology specific to the cope of care on 3 West (all surgical specialties and neurology) - Performs procedures within his/her scope of practice and unit based competencies (Procedure Grid in Procedure Manual) - Monitors LVAD and cardiac monitored patients. Works with Telemetry Tech to detect arrhythmias and implements appropriate interventions defined by unit policy - Performs blood draws and venipuncture for administration of IV fluids Administers IV fluids, IV push - Medications, TPN and blood products according to policy - Sets up and monitors PCA pumps- Performs complex wound and ostomy care - Promotes and provides health care teaching to patient and significant others - Monitor and interpret cardiac rhythms - Administer IV medications, titrate according to MD's order and the patients' needs Delegation/Management of Patient Care - Functions competently as modular leader and/or charge nurse - Makes patient assignments and completes 24 hour report and communicates shift report - Demonstrates ability to manage the daily routine operations related to patient care on the clinical Unit i.e. delegating, supervising, troubleshooting and evaluating - Delegates duties/patient care activities to LPN/SNT/HTs based on scope of practice and complexity of patients taking into consideration skill level of staff- Obtains supplemental staff as needed considering patient acuities, unit census, staffing mix, etc. - Participates in clinical supervision of nursing staff, nursing students and new hires through Role modeling - Communicating understanding of objectives and expected competencies of orientees and students - Mentoring - Collaborates with team members, other disciplines and patient/significant others - Recognizes and uses the knowledge and expertise of colleagues and other health care providers in meeting patient care needs Education - Completes the following requirements: - Orientation will be based on individual needs to insure competency, usually six weeks - Mandatory education, VISN requirements - Unit based competencies - Mandatory Skills - Other duties as assigned VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, to include days, nights, weekends, and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. This position requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect his/herself from physically abusive patients.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Wanda Sato
• Phone: 406-447-7938
• Email: [email protected]