Registered Nurse - Operating Room

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. 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/12906331.

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 of Science in Nursing Degree or a field related to Nursing.

National Certification as a Perioperative Nurse CNOR. Minimum of three (3) years of recent Perioperative Nursing, operating room.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Major Duties:

This Registered Nurse position works in the Operating Room (OR) for Nursing Service at the VA Providence Healthcare System. This is a permanent full-time 40 hours per week position.

Duties include but are not limited to: Demonstrate leadership by active participation in charge nurse/service lead duties as well as unit/hospital committees.

Responsible for the review surgeon's preference card (per specialty) and prepare the OR for the surgery.

This includes ensuring availability of instruments, maintaining inventory/equipment, obtaining specific instruments trays/implants needed for cases, sterile supplies, etc.

Interview the patient and review the preoperative assessment, check chart for required documentation: history and physical examination, consents, day of surgery note, correct surgical site, laboratory tests results, lab values, allergies, and NPO status.

Assist anesthesia provider with induction within Nursing Scope of Practice. Manage OR equipment as it applies to the surgical procedure. Communicate patient care needs in a concise fashion.

Ensure proper patient positioning for various surgical procedures. Sterile administration/application of medication to the sterile field.

Monitor sterile field, equipment, and traffic flow through the OR suite. Prepare various specimens for pathology and microbiology per policy.

Complete documentation on OR record using the electronic health record.

Perform final surgical counts of instruments, sharps, sponges, and miscellaneous items with the scrub person; act per policy when there are discrepancies.

Work collaboratively with all levels of health care professional and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes.

Compliance with PPE, precautions and Infection Control Guidelines Skills in time management, priority setting, assessment and urgent intervention are essential to develop.

Respond to emergencies in a timely manner. Participate to improve OR efficiency Metrix, for example, first time case starts, room turnover, preventing SSIs etc.

Acquire specialty certification, Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) from Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN). Function efficient in both circulator and scrub role.

Work Schedule: This is a permanent full-time (40 hours per week) Shift to be determined. The Providence Healthcare System is an acute care facility operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

While most tours of duty are scheduled during the day (Monday - Friday; 7:00am -3:30pm or 9:00am-5:30pm) , the possibility of working evenings, nights and weekends does exist.

On-Call availability will be required. Shift changes may be considered by the service based on patient and facility needs including, compressed work schedule.

Compressed/Flexible: May be Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.

Contact Karen Chapman, Karen.Chapman@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This is NOT a Bargaining Unit Position This position is in the Excepted Service Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action).

The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).

In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is covered by a special rate.

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