Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.) Preferred Experience 5 years plus of scrub and circulating experience ACLS CNOR Preferred 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/12967635
• 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: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position
• A pre placement examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Duties

• This Registered Nurse-Operating Room position is in Nursing - Surgical Service and located at the Manchester - NH VA location
• This position is full-time at 40 hours per week
• The Operating Room Nurse provides broad-based clinical knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative - interdisciplinary surgical setting
• The OR nurse is responsible and accountable for the provision of industry standard direct patient care to a culturally diverse veteran patient population
• This nurse demonstrates critical thinking skills in clinical judgements while assessing all aspects of patient care
• demonstrates leadership by engaging in professional governance on the unit and at program level to enhance quality improvement initiatives
• anticipates risks and surgical needs during procedures
• recognizes and acts on critical surgical urgency events and emergencies
• directs and supervises delivery of quality nursing care while precepting colleagues
• and increases critical thinking skills - troubleshoots - and self-directs in the delivery of patient care
• Duties are Included but are not limited to: Independently circulate a wide range of surgical procedures - ensuring adherence to sterile technique - patient safety standards - surgical time-outs - accurate documentation - and effective coordination among the interdisciplinary perioperative team throughout all phases of care according to National and local VA directives
• Perform scrub nurse responsibilities for diverse surgical specialties by maintaining sterile fields - preparing and handling surgical instruments and supplies - anticipating surgeon needs - and supporting safe - efficient intraoperative patient care
• Manage OR equipment as it applies to the surgical procedure
• Review surgeon's preference card and prepare the OR for the surgery
• Ensure availability of instruments - equipment - sterile supplies - and implants
• Interview the patient and review the preoperative assessment - check chart for required documentation: history and physical examination - consents - day of surgery note - correct surgical site - laboratory tests results - lab values - allergies - and NPO status
• Assist anesthesia provider with induction within Nursing Scope of Practice
• Ensure proper patient positioning for various surgical procedures
• Complete documentation on OR record using the electronic health record (Vista/CPRS)
• Perform surgical counts of instruments - sharps - sponges - and miscellaneous items with the scrub person per policy
• Pick cases - anticipating instrumentation - equipment - and disposable item needs
• Assist with room turn overs
• Work collaboratively with all levels of health care professional and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes
• Compliance with PPE - precautions - and Infection Control Guidelines Skills in time management - priority setting - assessment and urgent intervention are essential to develop
• Demonstrate leadership by active participation in charge nurse duties and unit/hospital committees
• Offer staffing support to PACU and surgical clinics
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday - Friday - 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact Karen.Chapman@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Notifications: This is not a Bargaining Unit Position This position is in the Excepted Service This position is covered by a special rate
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards