This announcement is recruiting for critical care nurses to serve in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System Campus.

As a Staff Nurse you will provide prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill and injured veterans. Some of the primary duties are: Administer blood products; apply the nursing process (assessment, plan, implement and evaluate) for all patients in the ICU; uses pain scale to complete initial pain assessment, reassessment of pain and evaluate effectiveness of pain management and utilizes pain assessment for cognitively impaired patient when appropriate; completes all electronic/written nursing documentation (nursing admission assessment, shift documentation notes, trifolds, etc.); utilizes the appropriate notes for critical value notification, skin documentation, fall assessment, CIWA and heparin protocols and proper use of BCMA; demonstrates competency of mobilization devices and lift devices; initiate and manage gastric decompression, gastric lavage and gastric/intestinal tube feeding; initiate, maintain and discontinue IV access and therapy; discontinue arterial lines and/or central line; manage IV fluids, vasoactive medication drips and IV pain management drips, Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pump, and epidural infusions; administer intravenous medications by infusion or direct IV push as ordered by the physician and medically safe; manage patient on intra-aortic balloon pump, pacemaker therapy (transcutaneous and transvenous) and perform 12-lead EKG and right sided leads when necessary; The incumbent will also be expected to manage patients’ airways to include: Endo tracheal tubes, Tracheotomies, Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) oral/naso-pharyngeal airways and oral airways; monitor and assess neuromuscular blockade with the peripheral nerve stimulator; monitor and assess patients receiving procedural sedation/analgesia for procedures; obtain blood specimens from venous, central venous access catheter (i.e. PICC, Swan ganz), arterial catheters and pulmonary artery catheters; obtain blood specimens through venous and arterial phlebotomy when needed; perform hemodynamic monitoring with care of venous and arterial access sites and integrate numerical values with patient’s assessment; perform dressing changes for all central lines, arterial lines, IV sites, surgical and non-surgical wounds utilizing aseptic/sterile technique as appropriate; provide care to acute hemodialysis patients, utilizing dialysis unit nurses as a resource; review, verify and do 24 hour chart review of electronic physician orders in the clinical setting; take telephonic/verbal orders with “write down, read back”verification and electronic computer entry; utilize isolation precautions as appropriate; provide post-anesthesia monitoring and care for all cardio thoracic patients and for other patients according to circumstances especially off hours or previously admitted to ICU as needed. Incumbent leads by example in defining a customer service culture to ensure that all customers are treated with respect and civility. Ensures that whenever possible works to cultivate partnerships with our customers in developing solutions to meet their needs. The ICU nurse will be expected to recover post anesthesia/surgery patients.

Our facility is seeking individuals who possess good organizational skills which enable completion of work, a demonstrated ability to assume leadership in a patient centered program, and the ability to establish effective communication with patients, families, visitors and members of the interdisciplinary team. Perform emergent care in critical/crisis situation. Review and update patient database, patient care plans and other forms as appropriate. Excellent customer service and communication skills are required. 

Work schedules may vary.

We are a 24/7 operation. Incumbents may be required to work nights, weekends, holidays, and off-tour to meet the needs of our Veterans.

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Conditions of employment

• US citizenship
• Random drug testing
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• English language proficiency
• Physical standards
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Veteran's Preference:

When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.).  Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.  If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, nonservice-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and required documentation with your application materials.

For more information on Veterans' Preference, go to http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp.

 

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:  

• U.S. citizenship
• English language proficiency
• Physical standards - All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position.  A physical examination prior to employment may be required. 
• Registration – Current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The RN must maintain a current, full active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with the VA
• Educational requirements can be met as follows:

         (1)  Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State agency, and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed: a) The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); or b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). OR

         (2)  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. OR

         (3)  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.

The following requirements are preferred for this position:

• At a minimum, applicants should possess experience as an RN that is determined to be sustained and consistently at or above an acceptable level of quality.   This may include experience as a Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) provided that candidate was utilized as a professional nurse and passed the State licensing (board) examination on the first attempt, and experience as Nurse Technician Pending Graduation provided the candidate possessed an active, current registration to practice nursing in a State and was utilized as a professional nurse.  Professional nursing experience should be documented on the Application for Employment – Nurse and Nurse Anesthetists (VA Form 10-2850a).

·          BSN Preferred

·          BLS and ACLS certification from a VA approved certifying body

·          One Year or greater recent ICU nursing experience

·          Completion of a critical care course/training/orientation preferred

·          One year or greater telemetry/DOU nursing experience

·          CCRN preferred.

References: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6, NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated March 17, 2009. 

Applicant's education and experience will be reviewed by a Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected.  The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: light lifting, under 15 pounds, light carrying, under 15 pounds, straight pulling (1 Hour) pulling hand over hand (1.5 hours), pushing (1 hours), reaching above sholders, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (12 hours), standing (12 hours) repeated bending (4 hours) climbing, legs only (.2 hours) both legs required ( prothsis Ok) Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual lrequirements (specify)- good vision in one eye. Ability to distinguish basic colors. Hearing (aid permitted), able to hear using a stethoscope for vital signs. able to crawl when needed, and able to kneel when needed.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Complete application packages will be reviewed to determine if the basic qualifications for this position have been met. A listing of candidates who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the hiring facility where the credentialing and privileging screening process is completed.