Summary

The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system - offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista - Escondido - Imperial Valley - Kearny Mesa - Oceanside - Sorrento Valley - and Rio Clinic. The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.

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
• 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/12948076
• 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 Experiences: 1-2 years current experience in Surgical Care Coordination - specifically in Urology - General Surgery - CT - Vascular experience helpful
• OR experience in GS - Ct - Vascular helpful
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting and Carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight Pulling - Pushing - Walking - Standing - Kneeling - Repeated bending - Keyboarding - Viewing computer screen (8 - 12 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands and legs required
• 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 20/40 in the other
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• and Emotional/Mental stability.

Duties

• Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and leadership in improving patient care using the nursing process for patients requiring specialized or complex care independently
• Provides patient care in the surgical specialty clinics as needed
• Provides surgical care coordination from the point of decision for surgery until patient post-op tenure is completed or they are returned to PACT/Primary Care provider for continued follow-up
• Meets and collaborates with an interprofessional team to discuss and determine a plan of care for surgical patients prior to surgery and any necessary follow-ups post-surgery
• Assists the surgical team in monitoring surgical patients requiring ongoing surgical care until the surgeon releases the patient back to primary care
• Applies the nursing process(assessment - diagnosis - outcome identification - planning - implementation - and evaluation) to all aspects of patient care
• Serves as a subject-matter resource for multiple surgical specialties as assigned
• Helps veterans navigate through the pre-op process - including necessary consults - appointments - testing - education - etc
• Coordinates surgical case scheduling with clinical support staff - physicians - social workers - case managers - etc. - to ensure timely surgical patient care
• Collaborates with clinic nurses and other employees to help coordinate clinic visits - pre-surgical medical studies(radiology - nuclear medicine - labs - etc.) - consults and clearances from other specialties - treatments - and/or procedures for surgical patients
• Communicates the needs of the surgical team - including equipment - implants - and supplies to successfully perform scheduled procedures
• Ensures all surgical patients are medically cleared prior to the planned/scheduled surgery date
• Functions as a liaison between all members of the Surgical Specialty team (attending surgeons - residents - and fellows) - administrative support staff ( AS - MSAs - etc.) - surgical clinic staff - Ambulatory Service Unit (ASU) - Operating Room (OR) - inpatient nursing units - etc
• Provides excellent customer service as a liaison between patients and families to support education - emotional support - and surgical care coordination within the medical facility or non-VA contract facilities
• Triages and addresses phone messages - secure messages - and consults as needed
• Serves as the primary contact for scheduling surgical patients for surgery
• Maintains all mandatory and clinical competencies required for the position
• Coordinates patient referrals for surgical risk stratification - completion of evaluation - and surgery date selection
• Addresses the psychological needs of pre and post operative patients as needed
• Triages all surgical requests for urgency of scheduling
• Optimizes the use of the surgical block schedule for available operating room time
• Collaborates with surgical attendings - fellows - and chief residents to maximize OR surgical time
• Completes surgical planning worksheets
• Coordinates surgical case entry into DSS (PeriOp Live) and ensures correct information is entered at least 72 hours prior to surgical procedure
• Notifies the Operating Room NM/ANM and Operating Room Schedulers of any changes to surgical requests and any future block time/surgical time that will not be utilized by the service (minimum of two weeks in advance for unused surgical time)
• Coordinates requested implants - equipment - instrumentation - and supplies required for surgery with the attending surgeons - residents - vendors - implant coordinator - operating room unit coordinator - and sterile processing leads
• Collaborates with Surgeons - Anesthesia team - and Operating Room to coordinate urgent/emergency surgical scheduling
• Maintains a surgical referral database
• Reviews the qualifications and competence of privileged providers/staff who provide patient care services
• Addresses customer complaints with optimal Service Recovery techniques
• Collaborates with multiple disciplines and departments to improve surgical efficiency and delivery of patient care
• Arranges transportation - home-care needs - and lodging as needed
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible - organized - and function under stressful situations - adjusting to the uneven workflow and changing priorities of the surgical suite
• Recognizes and responds to patients in emergency and physically stressful situations as appropriate
• Performs other duties as assigned
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Full time Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized