Registered Nurse - Specialty Care Services

Specialty Services Rn

The Specialty Services RN is a key member of the multidisciplinary team; responsible for collaboration among team members, promoting effective communication and ethical practice to meet the needs of veterans. The RN oversees the practice of licensed practical nurses, independent care technicians, and health techs.

Responsibilities The Nurse Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. Focuses on patient safety and the quality of nursing care by applying appropriate nursing interventions, such as identifying and clarifying patient needs, performing procedures, coordinating nursing and other health services. Duties include but not limited to:

• Delivers and manages care of patients undergoing therapeutic, diagnostic procedures
• Responsible and accountable for performing patient assessment, verifying medication orders and administering, verifying laboratory orders and results
• Assists with clinic procedures and triaging patient phone calls for procedural, post-op and follow-up issues
• Provide comprehensive patient education regarding management and related treatments delivered to patients in the Specialty clinics
• Assists in obtaining and receiving outside medical records
• Supports medical staff in managing consults to the service, assist in prioritizing, and facilitates access for urgent needs
• Follows established safety and infection control standards
• Ensures that regulatory standards are met, including medication management, clinical procedures requirements, and environmental care standards
• Completes appropriate clinical reminders to include Columbia -Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRs) and Influenza
• Prepares and administers medications and immunizations

Specialty areas include GI, Cardiology, Podiatry, Walk-In Clinic, and VAD Clinic

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package:

• 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, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

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.