Summary

The New Mexico VA Health Care System offers an exciting program for new graduate RNs! This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) is for recent Diploma in Nursing - Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) - Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master Degree in Nursing (MSN) graduates in their first licensed registered nurse role or with less than one (1) year of professional registered nurse experience.

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
• Preferred Experience: RN graduate from an accredited nursing program with less than 1 year of experience as an RN
• 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/12723620
• 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
• Fully licensed Registered Nurses will be offered a permanent appointment
• Nurse Graduates pending licensure will be offered a temporary appointment not to exceed one year - pending boarding and license
• Once licensed - you will be converted to a permanent appointment
• For foreign education equivalency the only certifying body the VA recognizes is CGFNS and its' subsidiary - International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Without certification of BSN-equivalency - the VA can only consider the degree at the associates level and pay will be determined accordingly
• 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 - 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 Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP) Residency is a 12-month comprehensive program developed to support the post graduate Registered Nurse (RN) during the first year of clinical practice in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings
• The post graduate RN will participate in classes - hands-on training - and clinical preceptorship working closely with program instructors and facility nurses and throughout the program
• The length of clinical orientation will vary according to assigned unit/units - learning needs - competence - and progress of the RN
• RN Transition to Practice Registered Nurses are required to attend all scheduled learning activities
• The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program reports to the RN Transition-to-Practice Residency Program Director with second line reporting to the Chief Nurse Academic Affairs and/or Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive
• At completion of the RNTTP Residency Program the RN will be assigned a specific practice area based on facility need if the RN does not already have a practice area
• The RN delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies
• The registered nurse works closely with preceptors with a goal of developing skills and judgment
• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Provide specialized direct and indirect care to patients within a designated specialty
• Observe - interview - and assess patients to identify care needs
• Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals
• Develop - implement - or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty areas
• Plan - evaluate - or modify treatment programs based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients - or by analyzing patient records
• Document nursing interventions - therapeutic measure administered - patient's reactions - patient teaching and understanding
• Administer therapeutic measures as prescribed by the physician to include - but not limited to - medication administration - intravenous fluids - blood transfusions - treatments and maintains those measures taken which are ongoing in nature .Participate in the development - updating and evaluation of standards of care and quality improvement monitoring
• Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care
• 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: Full-Time - Rotating Shifts - Weekends - and Holidays depending on unit assignment
• (Must be available to work all shifts - including weekends and holidays
• Be available to work as scheduled on assigned units (Shifts may be 12 hours - 8 hours - or a combination of both)
• Work week will vary - but includes weekdays - weekends and holidays
• Shifts vary - but will include nights/days/evenings.) Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.