This is an open continuous announcement until September 29, 2023. Qualified Applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. All applicants may receive consideration for 3 months from the date of application. If you wish to be considered after that period, and the announcement is still open to receive applications, you must re-apply to indicate your continued interest. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years recent RN experience, preferred current med/surg, step-down and/or critical care experience Current BLS certification. ACLS preferred BSN preferred but not required Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. 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 45 pounds and over; Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over; Straight pulling (1-2 hrs); Pushing (1-2 hrs); Reaching above shoulder (1-2 hrs); Kneeling; Repeated bending (1-2 hrs); Walking (2-4 hrs); Standing (2-6 hrs); Use of fingers; Use of both hands; Near vision correctable; Far vision correctable; Depth perception; Hearing (aide permitted); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Work closely with others, as well as, protracted or irregular hours of work ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The SWIMN (Serve Where I'm Most Needed) Pool RN reports to the Nurse Manager of the Central Staffing Office. The SWIMN RN is a specialized RN who serves in a staff nurse role to support patient care needs at Central Arkansas Veterans Health System. They will be trained to provide care across multiple services and will be assigned to work areas daily based on their validated competency/skillset. In this position the RN is directly responsible for the provision of direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse population with complex needs. Must possess the knowledge and skills of all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative and interdisciplinary practice setting The practice areas that the SWIMn RN will support based on their skill background include: Acute Care, Palliative Care, Community Living Center, and Critical Care. The SWIMN RN will occasionally be asked to travel between campuses in Little Rock and North Little Rock to support the delivery of quality Veteran-centered care. The following duties and responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the following: Skilled inpatient assessment with the ability to communicate appropriate concerns regarding patient's condition based on sound theoretical and technical basis. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply theories of aging as a scientific basis for practice. Demonstrates clinical competence and leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others such as patients, their family members/ significant other and members of the interdisciplinary team. Demonstrated ability to integrate Gerontological theories in their nursing practice. Skilled in preventive maintenance, restorative, rehabilitative and palliative nursing care. Completes initial assessments and reassessments of patient condition and response to treatment Demonstrates clinical competence charting in an electronic health record Demonstrates clinical competence using a barcode medication administration system. Psychosocial assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health care needs and care of specific patients and families/significant others. Restraint or seclusion treatment modalities are applied by nursing staff if patient is a danger to self or others. Order emergent diagnostic test such as Radiologist - x-rays; Laboratory - blood gases, CBC, Electrolyte; Electrocardiogram- (12 lead). IVs and approved IV medication administration. Titration of ordered medication according to establish parameters. Adheres to infection control practices while using equipment and providing patient care. Manages care of patient on mechanical ventilation following policy/protocols if assigned to critical care area Maintains Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) certification If assigned to Critical Care, Nursing staff will maintain Advance Cardiac Life Support certification (ACLS) Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases 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) Work Schedule: Various Schedules/Will be discussed during interview Shifts to include variations of: Daytime Evening Night Hours may vary, occasional weekends and/or on holidays as needed. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
