The Surgical Service Line's Short Stay Unit (9W) at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center (University Drive campus) is seeking a full time (40 hours/pay period) steady night shift tour of duty Registered Nurse. The Short Stay Unit (9W) is open Mondays at 0600 to Saturdays till 1930, and are closed on Sundays. The unit is open on some holidays.

Duties

The Surgical/Short Stay Unit (9W) night shift nurse is responsible for working steady nights. The incumbent must demonstrate clinical competency in completion of core and practice specific procedures/competencies according to the competency checklist for 9W and must maintain certification in both BLS and ACLS as well as the annual telemetry monitoring competency through the VA Medical Center. The incumbent will provide specialized care to patients admitted in Observation and Clinic status in an outpatient setting with a medical or surgical condition and will be accountable for promoting patient safety, continuity/quality of care and general well-being of the patient. She/he will collaborate with physicians and ancillary services to provide this care and will be responsible for the following: Applying the nursing process in providing care for clients with complex nursing needs; guiding and directing others who provide care; effectively prioritize actual and potential problems/needs; providing nursing care and continuous assessment based on written nursing standards of care, policies, and orders by the provider; documenting per VA policies and procedures and 9W SOPs. Responsible for assessment, pre-procedure admission documentation, insertion of peripheral intravenous access, obtaining EKG and bloodwork, obtaining baseline vital signs, and carrying out all pre-procedure orders. Responsible for providing pre- and post-procedural care and education to the medical and surgical patients who are processed through 9W for their procedure and treatment. Administering point of care infusions/injections following the 9W Infusion/Injection Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Post-procedurally, responsible for patient assessment, pain, management, obtaining vital signs as ordered, discharge instructions, and post procedure patient education. Monitoring the surgical/procedure site; administering oral and intravenous medications as ordered by the provider; providing care for cardiac monitored patients per the 9W Short Stay Unit and the 9W Cardiac Monitoring SOPs. Promoting and maintaining effective pain relief, comfort management, and emotional comfort for the patient; conducting initial and ongoing assessment and documenting per the 9West Short Stay Unit SOPs; ensuring post-procedure follow-up call is made by the 9W nursing staff per the 9W Follow-Up Phone Call SOP. Providing comprehensive care for patients admitted in Observation and Clinic status in an outpatient setting with a medical or surgical condition showing a degree of instability or disability which needs to be monitored, evaluated, and assessed for admission to inpatient status or assignment to care in another setting. Discharge planning is initiated at the time of the nursing assessment, and reassessed and revised throughout the patient's stay. All patients must receive written discharge instructions upon discharge. Other duties include, but are not limited to, answering the unit phone line, obtaining specimens, paging Physicians and ancillary departments for services, reviewing Physician orders, facilitating carrying orders out, printing lab labels and patient wristbands, taking verbal orders in an emergency, assisting with transportation, coordinating patient bed flow with the Bed Management Center (BMC), completing encounters, checking for expired supplies, and cleaning non-critical reusable medical equipment. All other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the 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: Strictly Night Shift. 7P-7:30A or 11P-730A Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Authorized 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: 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. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12345912. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. 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: Heavy lifting up to (35 pounds); heavy carrying up to (35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; 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 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.

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 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Nicole Bender
• Phone: 484-703-9360
• Email: [email protected]