The Durham VA Health System, has one (1) Full-time vacancy for a Registered Nurse (Critical Care Dept. ) The RN will be fully qualified and certified to function in a clinical role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Duties

The Medical Intensive Care Unit is an 8-bed intensive care unit that delivers care to adult male/female patients with primary disease processes that include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, cardiac, respiratory and/or renal failure, diabetic ketoacidosis, gastrointestinal bleed, sepsis, Cerebral Vascular Disease (CVA), acute hematologic disorders and/or tuberculosis (TB). The patients in this unit routinely have multiple co-morbidities. The average length of stay for patients in the MICU ranges from 2 days to 2 weeks. Registered Nurses provide patient and family centered care in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, who support patients and families in decision-making. The interdisciplinary needs of patients and families are met through collaboration with ancillary services to include Pharmacy, Laboratory, Dietary, Social Work, Chaplin, and Radiology. Specialty Care and services are available through consultation and are utilized as needed to ensure continuity and progression of care. Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated on admission and continues throughout hospitalization. Interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning is conducted daily during "rounds" and weekly during an organized interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning conference. Therapeutic modalities include drug and parenteral therapy, respiratory therapy, diagnostic procedures, respiratory isolation, intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) and management, cardio version, esophageal tube management, tube feedings, drug titrations for pain control, cardiac rate/rhythm control, and blood pressure (BP) control. Four Most Common Patient Problems Requiring Nursing Care: 1. COPD with Acute Respiratory Failure 2. Cardiac. Respiratory or Renal Failure 3. Diabetic Ketoacidosis 4. Gastrointestinal Bleed VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: 12 and 8 hour evening/night/some day rotations with alternating weekends Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No EDRP Authorized: Contact Caronda.Slocum, [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. 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 the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited 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). 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. Preferred Experience A minimum of two years of successful nursing practice A minimum of two years Critical Care experience focused in Medical Surgical Nursing Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients, families and other members of the interdisciplinary team Demonstrated skills in decision-making, sound clinical judgment and critical-thinking abilities Demonstrated ability to use computer systems in support of patient care delivery Preferred Level of Education BSN Preferred Certifications ANCC for CCRN ANCC for Medical Surgical Nursing ACLS BLS Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Whitlea Mitchell
• Phone: 804-738-1750
• Email: [email protected]