Recruitment Incentive Authorized, see "Duties" Section for details! The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse (RN) provides direct care and meets the needs of patients of high acuity and requiring a high level of care based on a variety of illnesses, ailments, acute injury, exacerbation of a chronic condition and/or preparing/recovering from surgery. The RN must have a broad scope of understanding a variety of cares required for and pathophysiology of all body systems. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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: Previous ICU Experience CCRN Certification 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. Sioux Falls VAHCS is an interdisciplinary teaching facility, offering medical, surgical, and mental health inpatient services. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care, and long-term care in the areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, geriatrics, and transitional care. 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 Veterans and objects may be required. The RN may be exposed to infected Veterans and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/ invasive procedures. The RN may occasionally be exposed to Veterans who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The RN must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on Veteran needs. This position requires heavy lifting (45 lbs and over), Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over), use of fingers, both arms/hands required or the equivalent required, walking 8 hours, standing 8 hours, repeated bending (3 hours), climbing, legs only (1 hour), ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include: Fumes, smoke or gases, working with hands in water, and working closely with others. ["The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Registered Nurse (RN) provides direct care and meets the needs of patients of high acuity and requiring a high level of care based on a variety of illnesses, ailments, acute injury, exacerbation of a chronic condition and/or preparing/recovering from surgery. The RN must have a broad scope of understanding a variety of cares required for and pathophysiology of all body systems. The RN will initiate ICU protocols based on the patient's assessment, chief complaints, and symptoms. The RN documents frequently based on routine and acute change in conditions. RN's will advocate patient needs, support decisions, clarify options and collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary team to facilitate discharge planning, communicate transfer needs, and assist with arranging continuity of care with other facilities. Advocate and provide support, answer questions, and educate patients and their families on surgical procedures, post-surgery care and other pertinent diagnoses. The RN demonstrates competency with knowledge and skills related to specific functions including but not limited to the following: mechanical ventilation, cardiac monitoring, tele-ICU, airway management, acute pain management, wound care, dressing changes, initiating pressure injury prevention and hemodynamic monitoring. The RN can identify cardiac arrhythmias and initiates appropriate action in accordance with ACLS standards. The RN maintains Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. Frequent tasks carried out by the ICU RN involve admitting new patients, monitoring vital signs and clinical status of the patient, administering medications, and reporting adverse reactions to medications in a timely manner. Operating, maintaining, and programming equipment such as IV pumps, tube feeding pump/ tubes, chest tubes, and patient lifts. RN's will participate in core elements of performance including knowledge and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes, competencies, initiatives, as well as customer service programs. ICU RN is required to respond and team lead all facility wide events such as Rapid Response Team, Code Blue, and Code Stroke. Provides specialized nursing care to critically ill patients with complex comorbidities by utilizing critical care nursing knowledge to provide interventions consistent with health team plan and projected optimal outcomes. Performs cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring for critically ill patients. Maintains a safe environment by anticipating and responding to changes in patient condition and emergency situations. Utilizes sound judgment to prioritize work assignment based on patient needs, prioritizing patients according to urgent needs. Functions independently in the complex environment and must be able to adapt to the constant changing environment. Collaborates with members of the multi-disciplinary team in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care. Assures detailed observations, assessments and changes in patient condition, are documented in the patient medical record and / or other pertinent records. Demonstrates knowledge and competencies in technical and operational knowledge in nursing, able to adhere to unit-based protocols. Demonstrates knowledge of mandatory and annual competencies for equipment and procedures Treats all Veterans, families, and other healthcare providers with dignity and respect. Listens to and acknowledges Veteran and family perspectives and choices. Veteran and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds are incorporated into the planning and delivery of care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner Utilizes knowledge and skills necessary to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting. 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 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: $10,000 with 2-year service agreement Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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