Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. refer to required documents section below. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current, permanent Orlando VA Healthcare System employees. 2. All other VA employees. 3. U.S. Citizens and other current permanent Federal Employees of other agencies.

Videos

The Orlando Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is looking for a Registered Nurse Manager to work in Nursing Operations, Emergency Department. The Emergency Department (ED) Nurse Manager has designated first-line supervisory authority, responsibility, and accountability for the 24/7 operations of the department, ensuring that staff provide timely nursing care which complies with generally accepted standards of clinical practice. Responsible for performance measures, performance improvement, customer service/patient satisfaction, patient and employee safety, interviewing applicants, employee relations, standards of care and practice, the work environment, and accreditation and regulatory standards. The ED Nurse Manager actively develops and manages collaborative partnerships with physicians and other clinicians. Responsible for staffing their units on a continual basis (24/7), validating the nursing hours per patient day, and working with other Nurse Managers to identify and share resources. The ED Nurse Manager is responsible for time scheduling of the unit, coaching staff, dealing with employee conduct and performance issues, completing, and submitting recurring reports, proficiencies and performance evaluations in a timely manner.

The ED Nurse Manager participates on service and medical center committees and task forces to improve nursing practice and patient care. The ED Nurse Manager identifies educational needs of staff and ensures that these needs are addressed. The ED Nurse Manager has an integral role in supporting and facilitating student nurse clinical experiences, as well as orienting new Nurse Managers. The ED Nurse Manager works in partnership with the union and adheres to EEO principles. In the absence of the ED Nurse Manager, a cross-covering Nurse Manager will be designated to handle administrative and clinical issues, such as staffing coverage, granting leave, and patient and/or staff issues. The ED Nurse Manager reports directly to the Chief Nurse of Acute Care.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Oversees and is responsible for delivery of quality patient care, including appropriate documentation, employees clinical/performance competency and continuous
• Quality Improvement Projects, core responsibilities in the Unit assigned, such as pharmaceutical waste, medication security and emergency preparedness programs.
• Oversees and is responsible for retention and recruitment of highly skilled nursing staff, monitoring changes in workflow, technical and equipment needs, and ensuring a workforce that can adapt to this rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrates knowledge with established policies and procedures, administration of the Unit in accordance with TJC and VHA Policy. Responsible for monitoring compliance of these policies.
• Serves as an integral member of the Health Care System Emergency Response Team.
• Demonstrates ability to lead the Unit during emergency situations and drills and prepares the Unit for potential Internal / External Disasters and / or Pandemic situations.
• Recommends and/or takes disciplinary action where appropriate.
• Evaluates the attendance and performance of all staff assigned to; ensures all staff completes all mandatory training.
• Reviews the self-created schedules of the nursing/clinical teams to ensure compliance with staffing requirements, regulations, and the organization's policies.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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.)

• VA-approved certification within the scope of practice
• MSN (Highly preferred)
• 5-7 years of ED RN experience with progressive leadership
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as both a team member and leader, with excellent interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, and exceptional oral and written communication skills, as demonstrated in previous assignments.

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, resume, 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 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 five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. 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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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.