Become a Registered Nurse at the VA Montana Health Care System with our VA Student Trainee Experience Program (VA-STEP)! VA-STEP serves as a first step to gain employment within the VA after graduation and licensure. The student is employed as a trainee earning a salary while they learn to develop understanding, confidence, and competencies in the care of our nations Veterans at your local VA Montana Medical Center.

Duties

The VA-Step (VA Student Trainee Experience Program) Student Nurse Technician is designed to attract academically successful students of nursing programs to VA Medical Centers. Under the guidance of a proficient VA Registered Nurse preceptor, the student will develop clinical competencies in nursing specialty areas such as critical care, medical-surgical, post-surgical, ICU, mental health, and other clinical settings throughout the VA Medical Center. The learning opportunities in the specialty clinical areas will be enhanced by didactic course work, structured clinical experiences including competency-based clinical practice and participation in nursing-focused clinical conferences. The VA-Step Student Nurse Technician adheres to established policies, standards of care, standards of practice; provide direct nursing care under the direct supervision of a qualified BSN preceptor, and functions as a team member. Under the direct supervision of a qualified BSN preceptor, the VA-Step Student Nurse Technician is developing the educational, experiential, and knowledge/practice-based competency requirements. Major Duties:

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The CGPA must be computed on post-secondary academic work taken within the past 3 years, or; based on academic work accepted for credit towards the clinical laboratory science degree While a student may have a grade "C" in a specialty course, the cumulative GPA for their specialty courses may not be less than a 3.0. Only data on official transcripts should be used for determining grade qualifications Be able to complete a minimum of 400 hours as a VA-Step Student in a VA Facility Not be under a service obligation to any Federal, State, or Private Institution, or be a recipient of any Federal scholarship that incurs a service obligation to another organization Currently in a Good Academic Standing (as defined by the school the student is attending) leading to graduation and NCLEX certification Not obligated to work somewhere outside the VA after graduation Undergo a Background/Suitability Investigation Currently attending a College or University and be in a Baccalaureate Nursing Program 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). 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 potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The Student Nurse Technician 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 Student Nurse Technician may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The Student Nurse Technician must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: Karen Blackmon
• Phone: (303) 202-8286
• Email: [email protected]