Summary

The Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville - FL - is seeking a highly qualified Registered Nurse (RN) to serve in the Endoscopy Unit within the Gastrointestinal (GI) / Medical Day Stay - which specializes in gastrointestinal routine screenings - diagnostic procedures - and therapeutic interventions.

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/12986403
• 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: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing One year of satisfactory Medical Unit - Medical Step-Down Unit - or Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) experience as an RN
• GI experience ACLS (within one year) Medical/ Surgical certification or specialty certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear - distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• 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
• Functions or scope of assigned duties include - but are not limited to: Performs pre and post-care of the Veteran patient undergoing various Gastrointestinal (GI) procedures
• Manages the Patient Undergoing Conscious Sedation
• Assists residents - fellows and staff physicians in performing basic and complex endoscopic procedure - ie
• espohagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD] - small bowel biopsy - colonoscopy - esophageal dilation with a variety of dilators - percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG] - percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy [J-TUBE]
• (placement of catheters) - esophageal prosthesis placement - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - endoscopic ultrasound [EUS]
• flexible fiber optic sigmoidoscopy - stents and drains - esophageal - sclerotherapy - liver biopsy - paracentesis; - mono polar electrocautery - lasers/ablation (HALO) - argon plasma - heater probe (coagulation of GI bleeding) - and Small Bowel (PILL-Cam) Endoscopy - Cryotherapy
• Participates in quality improvement measures - recommending and implementing practice changes when indicated
• Serves on GI-related committees - incorporating practice improvement measures
• Delivers and manages the care of patients undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic endoscopy procedures - including both inpatients and outpatients
• Assesses the patient's 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
• Maintains proficiency in the maintenance - cleaning - and preparation of endoscopy-specific equipment
• Recognizes changes in patient care situations and initiates appropriate emergency measures
• Adapts to changes in the daily schedule
• 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 - 0930 -1800
• On-call rotation is required
• On-call hours will be 1730 - 0700 M-F and Saturday - Sunday - and Holidays 0700-0700
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized