Summary

The VA New Jersey Health Care System is looking to recruit several Registered Nurses to work on a Temporary - Intermittent basis at the Lyons Medical Center - as part of the Community Living Centers/Long Term Care team. The Community Living Center Registered Nurse is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned residents and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the care setting.

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/13092746
• 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: BSN preferred
• Current - professional nursing experience in community living center - sub-acute care - behavioral health - or long-term care setting highly preferred
• Experience with dementia care - suicide risk - infection prevention - and end of life care highly preferred
• Veteran centered nursing care with complex medical - functional - cognitive - and behavioral health needs preferred
• Experience completing assessments - developing - implementing - and evaluating individualized care plans preferred
• 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 patient 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 or operative/invasive procedures
• 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.

Duties

• The Community Living Center (CLC) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• The RN assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care - and administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• The incumbent will influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team - with core elements of performance to include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• The CLC RN will evaluate patients in the CLC upon admission to the restorative care program and quarterly thereafter to determine the potential for the program - and is responsible for screening Veterans and conducting initial assessment prior to admission
• He/she will outline and implement measurable functional goals for Veterans to reach their highest level of function and maximize their independence
• Duties include but are not limited to: Collaborate in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for restorative residents
• Outline and implement measurable functional goals for Veterans to reach their highest level of function and maximize their independence
• Collaborate with educators - Occupational Therapy - and Physical Therapy in recruiting and admitting patients to the Restorative Care Program - develop goals to maximize the patient's independence/functioning - and evaluate patient progress toward their goals quarterly and institutes changes in therapy - goals - and activity when necessary
• Complete the restorative nursing sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) - specifically the observation period - quarterly reassessments - and significant changes in care
• Act as a role model - mentor - and coach to the program's staff - while providing developmental opportunities for program staff to acquire clinical restorative nursing skills and expertise
• Implement strategies and programs for restorative nursing care that is consistent with the facilities mission - vision - policies - goals - and objectives
• Provide peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement - support colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care - and foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• All other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Intermittent
• Temporary (not to exceed a year)
• Day/Evening/Night Tours of duty available - and will be discussed at interview
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package VA Nurse Total Rewards