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Registered Nurse - Transition to Practice

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
West Texas VA Health Care System
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The RN, Transition to Practice (TTP) job opportunity is an educational program designed for new graduate nurses who will earn a RN degree and gain licensure prior to the start date of employment. Qualifying for this position is in compliance with the Registered Nurse Qualifications Standard.

**The Transition to Practice residency is a 12-month program, targeted at placing the selectee in a permanent hard to fill position at the conclusion of the residency.**

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/27/2021 to 04/19/2022
Salary
$66,202 to - $122,594 per year
Pay scale & grade
VN 00
Location
3 vacancies in the following location:
Big Spring, TX
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CAZM-11330000-22-JMS
Control number
628664100

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Duties

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This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Applications will be reviewed weekly or at the request of management. This announcement will remain open until filled or until closed at the request of management.

**The Transition to Practice residency is a 12-month program, targeted at placing the selectee in a permanent hard to fill position at the conclusion of the residency.***


The West Texas Veterans Healthcare System Registered Nurse Transition to Practice Program is an educational program designed for the graduate registered nurse who has completed an entry level nursing degree at the Associate, Diploma, Baccalaureate, or Master's level. Post graduate registered nurses in their first licensed RN role, or RNs with less than one year of professional experience are eligible to apply. Qualifying for this position is in compliance with the Registered Nurse Qualifications Standard.

The nurse residency program was developed to support post graduate registered nurses during the first year of practice in an outpatient, behavioral health, long-term care, and limited operating room areas within the facility. The post graduate registered nurse will participate in an orientation program under the guidance of a qualified preceptor. The length of clinical orientation will vary according to the needs and progress of the nurse. Clinical areas are assigned based on organizational needs. Didactic sessions are scheduled during the year to facilitate transition and achieve competency in key knowledge, skills and responsibilities of a registered nurse. Transition to Practice Registered Nurses are guided in their professional development through precepting and mentoring in the clinical setting.

The program design and content are guided by:

  • VHA Directive 1077, VHA Registered Nurses (RN) Transition-To-Practice Program, April 26, 2019.
Duties include the following:
  • Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.
  • Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates care based on age-specific components.
  • Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction.
  • Considers all characteristics of the individual, including age and life stages, state of health, race and culture, values, and previous experiences.
  • Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.
  • Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs.
  • Duties also include documenting observations, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborates with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes; provides a full range of nursing care to patients with and variety of physical and/or behavior problems.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800-1630
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • All 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.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
  • Education: 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 Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 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. OR
    • 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) 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.
  • Licensure/Registration: 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.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: While not a requirement for consideration or selection, applicants with the following preferred education/experience are highly desirable. The supporting application must clearly identify the preferred experience, if applicable.
  • Post-graduate RN's with less than one year of professional nursing experience

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:
  • Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
  • Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
  • Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
  • Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
  • Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15- 44 pounds), Pushing (1-3 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; Both hands and legs required; Standing and Walking (4 hours); Kneeling and repeated bending (2 hours); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual requirement (20/40 DVA; corrected); Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the others; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Twisting, Simple Grasp; Fine Manipulation.

Education

Note: Only nursing education programs or nursing degrees recognized by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited by either of the following accrediting agencies at the time the program was completed may be used to qualify for Federal employment:

  1. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) OR
  2. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Note: 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Note: If your school was accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACEN or CCNE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. One option for meeting this requirement is to contact the ACEN for education verification Request for Verification of Accreditation - Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (acenursing.org)

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Additional information

Testing Designated Position: All 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.

Annual leave shall accrue for full-time Nurses, and Nurse Anesthetists at the rate of 8 hours for each full biweekly pay period.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Nurse 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.

Experience as an 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.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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