The Occupational Health (OH) Registered Nurse will be responsible for responsible for supporting and maintaining employee health and safety programs which ensure delivery of quality care provided to adult employees of the VA medical center. The Primary focus of clinical practice is to maintain optimum health, prevent illness and injury, manage selected acute or chronic health problems and ensure compliance with all federal, local and state regulations related to Occupational Health practice.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Major duties/functions include, but are not limited to: The OH Registered Nurse is accountable to the Occupational Health Nurse Manager (rating official), the OH Assistant Nurse Manager and the Chief, Ambulatory Care Nursing Service. The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). Delivers safe care to assigned patients, while developing technical competencies. Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment. Correctly and safely performs nursing procedures. Recognizes overt abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately. Implements physician's/provider's orders in a timely and complete manner. Implements nursing interventions/orders in a timely and complete manner. Requests assistance from co-workers when needed; knows when to ask for help. Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills. The nurse can recognize the patient has a problem. The nurse can manage the problem safely and effectively, recognizing his/her scope of practice. The nurse has a relative sense of urgency. The nurse takes the right action for the right reason Position-specific Competency Checklist is completed annually and is rated competent in all measured areas. Schedules pre-employment physicals for potential employees and yearly surveillance and fit for duty physicals for Medical Center staff as required by OSHA and Medical Center Policies. Prioritizes care with available resources and sees that employees get returned to duty as soon as possible for those there for walk-in illness. Performs blood glucose testing. Orders laboratory, x-ray, EKG, PFT and Audiology test. Performs EKG's for emergent situations (e.g. chest pain) and downloads into MUSE system. Recognizes clinical abnormalities in the electrocardiogram and reports to Occ. Health provider or designee. Compiles test results for presentations with the Occupational Health Physician Assistant or Physician. ix. Performs follow-up as necessary on test results x. Assists with the evaluation and the return to full duty of employees on light duty. Promotes health maintenance, early disease detection and prevention of illness and injury related to employees. xii. Administers the Medical Center's Needle stick/Occupational Exposures Program. Accurately documents all pertinent information related to on-the-job injuries in a timely manner. Assists in the medical management of employees exposed to hazardous materials. Assists infection control in the surveillance and management of job-related illnesses and exposures to infectious diseases and significant blood exposure including the prophylactic exposure protocol. Works closely with the Infection Control Practitioner in the event of an infectious exposure or infectious disease outbreak Assists in contact tracing related to an employee exposure or occurrence Aggregates and reports relevant data as needed to Quad, IPC or ICS xvi. Supports operations of the OH Immunization program. Schedules employees and volunteers for appropriate immunizations and infectious disease screenings. Follows up with the supervisors of employees who fail to receive scheduled immunizations, serum testing for TB, or other infectious disease screenings. Administers immunizations. Observes those immunized for post-immunization reactions and takes appropriate action for those adversely affected. Observes and evaluates skin tests for positive reaction. Takes appropriate actions for referral to treatment and follows-up. Coordinates with the pharmacy to insure an adequate supply of immunization vaccines/serums are available to support various immunization programs. Consistently models professional conduct in routine and stressful situations. Maintains current BLS certification and initiates and performs when necessary. All other duties as assigned. 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: Full-time, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. 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: Work will require long periods of regular and recurring standing and walking (8 hours) with regular and recurring heavy lifting (35 lbs. and over) and positioning of patients while maintaining balance. Must be able to bend, stoop, squat, kneel, move body and extremities quickly, push and pull equipment, carry equipment and supplies (heavy 35 lbs. and over) without personal limitations or physical restrictions. Protracted periods of sitting with an assigned patient may be required. Physical endurance and physical tolerance are required for an 8-hour shift as assigned. These are essential functions of the position.

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 Martinsburg VA Medical Center 510 Butler Avenue Martinsburg, WV 25405 US
• Name: Melinda Howard
• Phone: 334-430-0792
• Email: [email protected]