The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.

Duties

The Registered Nurse-Occupation Health reports directly to the Nursing Ambulatory Nurse Manager and performs duties that include but are limited to: Provides care for a specific population in a defined setting of occupational health and wellness across the healthcare system. Oversees the auxiliary occupational health functions in other locations including primary care clinics, Occupational Health clinics/programs, extended care programs, community-based outpatient clinics, inpatient care, and ambulatory surgery programs. Provides a unique approach to healthcare that allows the incorporation of traditional nursing skills. Functions as the lead nurse, coordinator, and point of contact for employee health promotion, disease prevention and injury prevention. Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs/activities based on assessed learning needs of employees to enhance the employee's personal well beings and in turn improve the effectiveness, productivity and satisfaction of employees. Works collaboratively with all levels of staff within the facility including Occupational Health, Dietetics, Employee Assistance, unit supervisors and others to assess and develop employee health promotion and disease prevention activities. Responsible for creating and translating policies, collecting and analyzing appropriate data and communicating outcomes. Work with the occupational health provider in competing surveillance of several programs; asbestos exposure, laser exposure, drug testing, fit for duty, employee immunizations, OHRS reports, pandemic oversight and employee wellness. Assist with care provided to employees and volunteers in the Occupational Health program. Students, without compensation (WOC), and other visitors to the campus under agreements, arrangements, or affiliations may receive limited services from Occupational Health as outlined by policy, directive, or memoranda. Provides leadership and has continuing responsibility for updating deployment, coordination and evaluation of the Occupational Health (OH) program at the Saginaw VAMC. This includes collaboration with a designated Employee Health physician, the Emergency Department, Human Resources, and other local and facility resources as needed. Programs include pre-employment screening, incumbent annual health evaluation and immunization, post-exposure counseling and treatment, evaluation and reporting of employee work related injuries and illnesses (OWCP), and maintenance of employee health records. Responsible, in collaboration with the OH LPN and Provider. The nurse reports to the Specialty and Urgent Care Nurse Manager. 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: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM EST, Subject to change based on agency needs. 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

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Preferred Experience: Two (2) years Occupational Health Nurse 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires the nurse to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading doctor's orders and visualizing the hue of a patient's skin, wounds, etc., and conduct visual inspections during patient assessment, including the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely and to appropriately make contact with Veterans. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required, exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 15 pounds of force to frequently move objects. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The nurse may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The nurse must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. This includes but is not limited to the ability to work independently, ability to recognize situations beyond function/knowledge/training and request appropriate assistance. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The nurse who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery 215 Perry Hill Road Montgomery, AL 36109 US
• Name: Linda Parker
• Email: [email protected]