Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Registered Nurse - Transition to Practice Program

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

A Nurse Resident is a registered nurse entering a one year residency program approved by the Veterans Health Administration. The Nurse Resident will undergo an intense program of instruction that includes classroom and competency evaluations, practical and clinical experience under a trained nurse preceptor, followed by independent, but closely supervised clinical experience in any of the acute care settings that include medical/surgical, geriatric/long term care, or behavioral health.

Overview

Help
Job canceled
Open & closing dates
01/04/2022 to 01/18/2022
Salary
$69,345 to - $92,225 per year
Pay scale & grade
VN 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Coatesville, PA
1 vacancy
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSZ-11341841-22-JA
Control number
629426000

Videos

Duties

Help

The Nurse Resident performs all the functions of a Registered Nurse, but under close supervision by the assigned nurse preceptor and the RN Resident Nurse Coordinator. Duties and responsibility include, but are not limited to:

  • Required to attend all scheduled classes and scheduled preceptor / mentor meetings.
  • Required to complete an evidence based practice project.
  • Arrive on time and maintain good time and attendance.
  • Maintain communication with preceptors, charge nurses, nurse managers, educators and the RN Residency Coordinator.
  • Complete evaluation forms on each RN who precepts him/her.
  • Demonstrate a positive attitude toward every opportunities presented in the learning and work environment.
  • Demonstrate patient centered care.
  • Demonstrate respect, dignity and courtesy for all internal and external customers.
  • Complete and submit assignments in a timely fashion.
  • Remain current in all required training, including BLS, professional licensure and required certification if applicable.
  • Provide safe patient care within scope of practice.
  • Actively seeks assistance/guidance when needed including collaboration with preceptors, nurse educators and RN Resident Coordinator.
  • Following completion of the residency program, the incumbent accepts a fulltime position as a staff nurse with a two year commitment.
The Nurse Resident is responsible for providing patient care at its basic levels. The incumbent is a registered nurse who is responsible for the clinical, administrative, research and educational aspects of the assignment. The Nurse delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical and administrative skills. Refer to the attached Performance Evaluation Code that establishes the scope of practice for the following dimensions:
  • PRACTICE - The effective use of the nursing process to make practice decisions in an ethical manner with consideration to safety, effectiveness and cost in planning and delivering care.
  • PROFESSIONAL ROLE - Seeks learning opportunity for self and others. Evaluates his/her own nursing practice and the performance of others.
  • COLLABORATION - Creates an atmosphere in which nurses build professional relationships with peers and colleagues in the interdisciplinary team. Provides opportunities for nurses to share knowledge through coaching and mentoring.
  • SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY - The extent to which the RN systematically evaluates and improves the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and health care delivery based on research.
Work Schedule: Holiday and weekend rotation. Tours of duty rotate according to facility needs.
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Discloser Report: Not required

Physical Requirements: Standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 6 hours), stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning; repositioning patients, assisting with transfers; pushing or lifting more than 45 pounds; visual (corrected to 20/30 or better with color discrimination); auditory acuity; arms above shoulder level; neck in a fully flexed or extended position; work on computers for extended periods of time. Work is primarily conducted in a well-ventilated, adequately heated and cooled building. May be exposed to inclement weather when traveling around medical center. May be exposed to normal office irritants - dust, pollen, noise, vibrations, or odors. May be exposed to therapy animals with and without advanced notice. May be exposed to patients and family in emotional upheaval or extreme pain. Must have emotional stability to properly care for usual patient population.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • 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
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

  • Meets the VHA REGISTERED NURSE TRANSITION-TO-PRACTICE RESIDENCY PROGRAM directives (VHA DIRECTIVE 1077).
  • Demonstrates required qualifications:
  • Has graduated from an accredited nursing program in the 12 months preceding entry on duty.
  • Has obtained his/her license in the 12 months immediately preceding entry on duty.
  • Has less than 12 months experience as a registered nurse.
  • Bachelor's Degree preferred.
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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
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.
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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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.

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.

As required by Executive Order 14043, Federal employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee's duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required exception from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

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:
A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

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.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.