Summary

The Registered Nurse- Pre-Operative And Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Fredericksburg HCC) positions are located at the Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Fredericksburg - Virginia. Please learn more about the position below - along with the duties.

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
• Note: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are required for this position
• 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/12968987
• 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/
• Preferred Experience: -Minimum of two (2) years of current experience in Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) that provides critical care-level services
• -Demonstrated competency in managing patients across the perioperative continuum - including Phase I (immediate post-anesthesia) - Phase II (recovery) - and extended care settings
• -Strong clinical skills in airway management - hemodynamic monitoring - pain control - and post-anesthesia recovery
• -Experience caring for a wide range of surgical and procedural patient populations
• -Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse (CPAN®) or Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia Nurse (CAPA) credentials preferred
• Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position include lifting - prolonged standing - sitting - frequent bending - stooping - walking - reaching - repetitive motion - and climbing stairs
• The mental/sensory requirements include logical thinking - processing and retaining information - reading - recall - reasoning - complex problem solving - hearing - clear distinct speech - writing - keyboarding - use of a telephone - and use of video connectivity

Duties

• The Pre-Operative and Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse is a professional registered nurse (RN) responsible for all aspects of the nursing process in delivering and supervising direct patient care
• Adhering to established policies and standards of practice - this nurse demonstrates leadership in improving patient care and serves as a role model for clinical excellence
• Reporting directly to the Perioperative Nurse Manager - the incumbent manages complex situations in a self-directed manner - coordinates care with a focus on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction - and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence positive patient outcomes
• Medications and procedures are administered according to guidelines and facility policies
• Duties include - but are not limited to: -Provides comprehensive nursing care during the pre-operative period as well as Phase I and Phase II post-anesthesia recovery
• -Administers prescribed medications - including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) drugs and anticoagulants - as ordered by anesthesia or surgical providers - utilizing all necessary safety precautions
• -Responds effectively during resuscitation situations - safely participating in code blue or rapid response events
• -Demonstrates clinical competency regarding the effects of anesthesia and provides appropriate interventions - escalating concerns in a timely and effective manner
• -Transduces pressure lines - when necessary - in emergent situations and accurately evaluates hemodynamic parameters
• -Manages thermoregulation - cardiac - and hemodynamic status of patients throughout the perioperative and recovery periods
• -Performs tasks independently or seeks assistance when appropriate
• skills include but are not limited to: phlebotomy - peripheral IV insertion - performing and interpreting 12-lead ECG - administering blood transfusions - and urinary catheter placement
• -Demonstrates working knowledge of a wide range of surgical procedures - including General Surgery - Ophthalmology - Urology - Orthopedics - and Podiatry - to effectively reinforce preoperative and preprocedural patient education
• -Reviews discharge instructions and educational materials with the patient and their caregivers - ensuring understanding and compliance
• -Functions independently in patient care - guided by patient assessment and established discharge criteria - with periodic oversight by the Charge Nurse
• -Maintains current certification in Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• -Performs other related duties as assigned
• 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 through Friday - 6am-6:30pm/varied tours
• Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives/Expenses: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized