Registered Nurse - Special Procedures Unit

Summary

The Endoscopy Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based procedural care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses and health/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the procedural setting. This nurse provides patient care - care coordination - health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management.

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:
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 1yr procedural - moderate sedation and phase 1 recovery experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as walking - bending - stooping - and some lifting
• There may also be extended periods of sitting or standing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols using mechanical lifts that are provided.

Duties

• The Endoscopy Registered Nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies - and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• The Endoscopy RN delivers and manages the care of patients undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy procedures including both inpatients and outpatients
• Assesses the patients physical and mental status prior to procedures - educates on procedural and post-procedural care - and documents responses to interventions - findings - and reports any changes
• Partners with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary team to promote effective and safe transitions across the health care continuum - including the Veteran's goals of care
• The Endoscopy RN provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Shares educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture
• The Endoscopy RN may function in several roles to include - pre-procedure assessments - post procedural recovery - and assisting physicians during procedures
• They maintain proficiency on the maintenance - cleaning - and preparation of endoscopy specific equipment
• They recognize changes in patient care situations and initiates appropriate emergency situations
• Adapts to changes in the daily schedule
• May be assigned call in which the Endoscopy RN will follow all facility policies regarding response time
• Duties May Include but not limited to: Special Procedures Unit I (SPU I) nurse will be responsible to circulate - assist and operate equipment for all SPU I procedures
• These procedures include - but are not limited to: Esophogastroduodenoscopy (EGO) - Colonoscopy - Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) - Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) - Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) - Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) - Navigational Bronchoscopy - Trans-bronchial Biopsy - Pleurx Placement - Pleuroscopy - Thoracentesis - Tracheostomy placemenUchanges - Chest Tube Placement - Cardioversion - Lumbar Puncture and paracentesis
• The SPU I nurse will cross train to all areas of SPU I including but not limited to: Endoscopy - pulmonary - prep/recovery for endoscopy - and prep/recovery for Special Procedures (IR - cardiac cath lab - EP - etc) and assisting with special procedures performed in SPU I
• The SPU I nurse must possess all applicable knowledge and skill sets for pre - post (Phase 1 and Phase 2) and intra- procedure care
• The SPU I nurse II will assume unit leadership rolls including but not limited to: charge roll duties and preceptor duties
• The SPU I nurse stays current on all quarterly and annual education/competencies including timely completion of BLSand ACLS per VA Guidelines
• The SPU I nurse readily participates in all new education as it is presented to stay current with practice changes
• The SPU I nurse forms an individualized plan of care to include verifying the procedure - noting previous procedures - presence of prosthetic devices/implants - sensory impairments and other pertinent data as outlined in pre-procedural documentation and/or physician orders
• The SPU I nurse will perform a physical assessment on each patient - identifying areas of concerns pre-procedurally - intra-procedure as needed and post-procedure noting any changes or impending concerns
• The SPU I nurse demonstrates understanding of principles of respiratory physiology - capnography - oxygen delivery and proper use/indication of all oxygen delivery devices
• The SPU I nurse recognizes impending complications and intervenes according to anesthesia protocols - orders - and department policy
• 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 - 07:00am- 17:30pm (4/10 work schedule with rotating day off) The SPUI RN Position requires to be on call and may last up to 24hrs
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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