The Registered Nurse - Specialty Clinics/Endoscopy Suite position is located at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System in Harlingen, TX.

Duties

Provides patients with personalized, proactive, and patient-driven health care through such activities as listening to the patient and addressing their needs/goals. Encourages and supports telehealth modalities, group appointments, and creates an environment that benefits the Veteran. Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating care for a designated group of patients. Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources, programs, and services. Refers patients for community resources as appropriate. Promotes health promotion and risk reduction strategies for patients through the assessment and utilization of the Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) performance measures and other quality indicators. Demonstrates flexibility and adapts to work demands or adjustment of assignments. Serves as a preceptor, charge nurse, or unit/shift leader as needed. Maintains glucometer competency and ensures quality checks are performed daily. Keeps the work/unit area clean and organized to ensure safety and efficiency. Provides nursing support to Pre-Anesthesia Surgical Screening (PASS) clinic and completes PASS notes appropriately. Screens patients for social service, home care, and other community care needs; coordinates or makes referrals as appropriate and seeks consultation when indicated. Educates the patient and family on disease process, prevention, wellness, and self-resources, plan of care, treatments, and/or procedures. Ensures pre-procedure tests are completed timely, as ordered, following the procedure checklist. Complies with The Joint Commission (TJC) and The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) Standards including the Universal Protocol to prevent basic surgical mistakes . Completes and documents secure messaging within 72 hours and identify surrogate as needed. Conducts patient assessments using face-to-face, telephone, or video modality for pre-anesthesia surgical screening clinic appointments. Provides patient/family education regarding expectations, preparation, and plan of care prior to the surgery, on the day of surgery, and post-surgery. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other members of the surgical team to ensure quality patient care. Conducts pre-appointment telephone reminder calls and provides preprocedural instructions specific to the procedure(s). Delivers and manages care for patients undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopic procedures. Performs fall risk assessment and assists patients (using the restroom, changing in and out of hospital gown, etc.) as needed. Conducts pre-procedure verification process and reviews the patient's chart addressing any missing information or discrepancies. Verifies the correct procedure/surgical site with the patient, physician's orders, and consent. Participates in the pre-procedural team huddle and assists with the surgical site marking process as needed. Assesses and prepares patients for procedures appropriately. Provides intravenous access for therapy and treatment according to policy and procedure as needed. Prepares and administers sedatives while monitoring the patient under the supervision of the physician: Conducts nursing assessments before, during, and after procedure. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730-1600 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit Status: This position is part of the bargaining unit. 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

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. Education: 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. License: 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: at least two (2) years of Endoscopy Experience at least two (2) years of Outpatient Experience at least two (2) years of recent RN Experience at least one (1) year of Peri operative Experience 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 I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling (0.5 hours); Pushing (0.5 hours); Walking (5.3 hours); Standing (5.3 hours); Repeated bending (5.3 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted).

Education

EDUCATION ACCREDITATION: The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science Degree in Nursing (MSN) must be recognized by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited by either of the following accrediting agencies at the time the program was completed by the applicant:

1. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) OR
2. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
3. ACEN/NLNAC or CCNE program or degree accreditation may also be found under the U.S. Department of Education

NOTES:

• Department of Education: 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/.
• Foreign Education: 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.
• School Name: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
• No longer on accreditation site: If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet

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

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]