Summary

The Western New York VA Medical Center is looking for a full-time Registered Nurse to join our dedicated team in the Operating Room at the Buffalo VA Medical Center - where you will provide high-quality - veteran-centered care that supports recovery - comfort - and dignity.

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/12970672
• 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: One year of Operating Room RN experience with multi-specialty service competence Previous experience in the OR Scrub role Demonstrated experience in sterile technique Demonstrated leadership and ability to function with minimal supervision Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The position requires the incumbent to have visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The incumbent must be mature - flexible - and sensible - capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• This position requires limited periods of standing - stooping - bending - pulling - pushing - walking - and be able to lift up to 35 pounds
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• This position also requires sitting for long periods typing on computer keyboard - looking at computer monitor - and using the telephone
• The incumbent maybe exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials requiring the incumbent to don protective clothing and equipment in isolation situations or during invasive patient procedures
• The incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative or aggressive related to neurologic or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must meet the required screening/testing and be medically cleared by Employee Occupational Health as a condition of employment.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (RN) is assigned to the Operating Room (OR) in the Ambulatory Care Service with the Buffalo - NY VA Medical Center
• The incumbent is a professional registered nurse - qualified by education and recent operating room experience to provide direct patient care and specializes in perioperative nursing practice
• The Registered Nurse will be involved in the three phases of the patient's surgical/OR experience
• This includes the preoperative - intraoperative and postoperative surgical phases of care
• The incumbent will possess intimate knowledge of regulatory requirements - VHA guidelines - utilization of organizational processes - clinical documentation requirements - current standards of care - evidence based practices and compliance guidelines
• The incumbent will execute position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client surgical care
• The Operating Room Nurse functional role includes specialization in perioperative nursing practice and is responsible for preoperative assessment and postoperative evaluation - providing individualized direct care with emphasis on the intraoperative period - organizing and coordinating the clinical components in response to individual healthcare needs and care continuum in multiple settings
• The goals are to center services around the patient - to foster patient self-managed care - and maximize efficient and cost-effective use of health care resources
• The Operating Room Nurse utilizes all avenues of resources available to provide safe and efficient timely coordination of quality health care and services
• The scope of practice will include but is not limited to the role of scrub/instrument and circulating nurse
• The incumbent collaborates and coordinates the patient's plan of care with the multidisciplinary team members
• The duties include - but are not limited to: Expected to function proficiently in both the circulator and scrub role within the OR and to be competent in all surgical specialties served
• Maintain knowledge of current Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards - VHA Directives - and service level standard operating procedures
• Assure the sterility of the surgical field is maintained and all instrumentation and equipment in play is used in a safe and efficient manner
• Protect the patient from injury caused by chemical - electrical - mechanical - and thermal sources - and extraneous objects - performs counting procedures to protect the patient from unintended retained surgical items - participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site - side - and level - and follow implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation - policy - and procedures
• Manage the patient's specimens in the appropriate manner - administers medications safely and correctly - performs interventions to maintain the patient's wound and tissue perfusion at or above baseline levels - and performs interventions to protect the patient from surgical site infection
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of all care provided during the perioperative experience is timely - complete - and accurate in the electronic health record
• The OR RN is required to be on-call during off tours hours to provide patient care for emergency procedures
• Work Schedule: Full Time
• 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM with 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM on call rotation Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package VA Nurse Total Rewards to include: 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