The Registered Nurse Transition to Practice Residency Program is designed to assist the new graduate in the transition from entry-level to competent professional RN. Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. Area of assignment will vary. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Referral of eligible applicants will be forwarded to the Nurse Recruiter at a minimum the first of each month.

Duties

The Registered Nurse (RN) Transition to Practice (TTP) Resident is a post-graduate RN who has successfully completed a state board licensing examination and has less than one year of RN experience. The RN TTP interprets the philosophy and goals of nursing service to others in the work setting; functions within established guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively and develop therapeutic relationships with patients, their families, and other professional and supportive personnel who provide patient care. The RN TTP delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The RN TTP works closely with a preceptor with a goal of developing skills and judgement to utilize the nursing process in real situations. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. The RN TTP in the Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program will be enrolled into a 12 month program that includes hands-on clinical training, classroom training, simulation training, preceptorship, mentorship, and shadowing experiences. The Tomah VA's RN Nurse Residency program has been developed to align with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Standards for Accreditation of Entry-to-Practice Nurse Residency Programs curriculum with the goal of improving quality of patient care across the continuum by providing additional education and support to first year RN's. The TTP RN Resident is required to attend trainings and learning experiences to successfully complete the program. The programs mission is to bridge nursing academic education and professional nursing practice. It is designed to support RN Residents as they transition from an entry-level, advanced beginner nurse to a competent professional nurse with the overarching goal of safe, high-quality care for Veterans. Program structure and content advance participants' continued development and application of knowledge, skills, and abilities within these five domains of competence: Person-Centered Care Quality and Safety Informatics and Healthcare Technologies Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development AREA OF PRACTICE The RN TTP Resident will be enrolled into the centralized program and supervised by the RN TTP Coordinator within the Education Department upon hire. Either during or at completion of the program, the Resident may interview for available posted positions if their competencies are fully validated and documented. The Resident will engage in four clinical rotations, (Mental Health, Acute Medical, Community Living Center, and Outpatient Clinics) throughout the first 6 months at the Tomah VA. The TTP Coordinator will delegate and oversee the rotation assignments and ensure that each unit has a preceptor that is able to provide appropriate preceptorship to the RN TTP Resident prior to assignment to that unit. The RN TTP Resident will be assigned a home unit upon hire and entry into the program where initial competency will be completed.

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. 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: Walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting.

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 Tomah VA Medical Center 500 East Veterans Street Tomah, WI 54660 US
• Name: Courtney Rozek
• Phone: 608-633-9733
• Email: [email protected]