JOB SUMMARY:
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 933573
This position is physically located in Nursing Service at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, LA as a Registered Nurse in Dialysis.
OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.
As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/.
The Overton Brooks VA Medical Center is located in the northwest corner of the state, commonly known as the Ark-La-Tex, the point where Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas meet. The Shreveport-Bossier City, LA area is home of Barksdale Air Force Base. With a population of nearly 400,000 in the citys metropolitan region, the area promises much to do while maintaining a reasonable cost of living, 17 percent lower than the national average. Shreveport/Bossier City is a popular tourist destination. There is an excellent climate and low cost of living. We have numerous colleges and universities, theaters, lakes, golf courses & other available family entertainment. Sporting activities include hunting, fishing, Shreveport Sports minor league baseball and the Independence Bowl. Cultural activities include Strand Theatre, Sci-Port Discovery museum for children, Norton Museum of Fine Arts, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse, Peter Pan Players, and Century Link Center arena where numerous concerts are held (i.e. Aerosmith, George Strait and Disney on Ice, etc.).
NOTE: Applicants education and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Nurse Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and step of the applicant selected.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
- Must pass pre-employment examination.
- Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
- Background and/or Security Investigation required.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
DUTIES:Back to top
Nephrology nursing is a specialty practice addressing the protection, promotion, and optimization of the health and well-being of individuals with kidney disease. The nephrology nurse coordinates care in collaboration with other care providers and health team members to plan and provide required care as effectively as possible. The nephrology nurse acts as a patient guide and advocate, assisting the patient in seeking information, assuring that the patient has the opportunity for informed consent for treatment decisions, and promoting the maximal level of patient-desired independence.
- Primes dialysis machines and dialyzers and is capable of executing special takes related to dialysate bath, sodium variation,isolated ultra filtration, etc. Performs machine alarm, conductivity, dialyzer and other 4 required safety checks prior to initiation of Hemodialysis.
- Reviews current treatment flow sheet data, patient and medication reminders on assigned patients prior to initiation.
- Collects objective and subjective data pre and post dialysis, including vital sighs, general patient condition. Recognizes abnormal findings and reports to the Charge Nurse. Demonstrates competence according to Nursing Service policies/procedures.
- Observes adequate functioning of Hemodialysis machine and other equipment. Responds to alarm condition, trouble shoots and reports problems to Charge Nurse.
- Collects, handles and labels specimens of body fluids/secretions. Performs specific test relative to patient needs. (i.e. blood glucose determination and other reagents tests). Recognizes abnormal findings and reports to the Charge Nurse and physician.
- Gathers equipment and effectively prepares patients for tests and treatments. Assists other Registered Nurses and/or physicians with minor procedures on the unit, i.e. central or femoral line insertion by positioning and holding the patient and/or proving required equipment. Maintain central line.
- Observes and records changes in patients condition. Communicates to the Charge Nurse and physician any unusual or significant changes in patients condition immediately.
- Administration of Na Saline and Heparin prior to initiation of treatment.
- Administers medicine including but not limited to EPO SQ.
- Cleans dialysis machines and chairs between patient and at end of shift.
Tour of Duty: The tour of duty will be Monday - Friday with rotating late shifts and call.
Grade and salary for these positions will be determined by the Nurse Professional Standards Board (NPSB).
Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
- U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
· Full unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration required.
· 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 National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) 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.
o 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)
· 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.
Education/Experience Requirements:
· Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, no experience.
· Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of experience, or an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelors degree in a related field and no experience; or a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) and no experience.
· Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of experience, or an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of experience; or a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of experience, or a Masters degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no experience.
· Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of experience, or ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years experience or a Masters degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years experience, or a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no experience.
· Nurse III - Masters degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years experience or Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and approximately 2-3 years experience.
GRADE DETERMINATIONS:
Experience as a RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following four dimensions of nursing: Practice, Professional Development, Collaboration and Scientific Inquiry. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.
The criteria are as follows:
· Practice: practice, ethics and resource utilization;
· Professional Development: performance, education/career development;
· Collaboration; collaboration, collegiality;
· Scientific Inquiry: quality of care, research.
Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G6 Nurse Qualification Standard.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.
Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds); Straight Pulling (up to 2 hours); Pushing (3 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Kneeling (1 hour); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (without aid); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; and Working closely with others.
Preferred Experience:
Current two (2) years of experience in Adult Dialysis
Current two (2) years of experience in Intensive Care
Certifications Required:
BLS (Basic Life Support)
ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)
Certifications Highly Preferred:
CDN - Certified Dialysis Nurse by NNCC National Nursing Commission
Certifications Preferred:
CNN - Certified Nephrology Nurse by NNCC National Nursing Commission
CCRN - Certified Critical Care Nurse by ANCC American National Creditialing Committee
Veterans Preference:
When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. You may also be evaluated based upon the question responses you provide during a structured interview. In responding to structured interview questions you should be sure to cite specific examples of experience, explain exactly what you did, and the outcome.
Country: USA,
State: Louisiana,
City: Shreveport,
Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.