Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility. 2. All other VA employees. 3. All other applicants. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below

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The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network. We're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (VISN 8), which includes medical centers and clinics in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean.


Major Duties:

• The Sterile Processing Service (SPS) RN, Educator/Coordinator is responsible and accountable for staff development and delivery of education programs to include orientation of new employees, evaluation of their progress and for developing and implementing a learning plan for improving identified deficiencies.
• Provides high quality education, training and research to all staff in the assigned area(s) to promote Veteran wellness and will demonstrate expertise in case finding, health teaching, health counseling, and provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being.
• Works collaboratively with Nursing leadership and all Services within NFSGVHS in the development and implementation of Patient Care Services and facility-wide educational programs and initiatives to ensure compliance with reusable medical devices (RMD)/reusable medical equipment (RME) directives.
• The RN, SPS Educator/Coordinator must learn to lead, collaborate, elicit support, network with interdisciplinary personnel, and collaborate with RME experts/resources outside the facility.
• Serves the organization as a clinical expert for all staff using any and all RMD/RME under Spaulding Classification, providing education and mentoring in the development of clinical skills.
• Demonstrates ability to assess and prioritize training needs of the staff and complete competency assessments. Competencies will cover high risk/low volume, regulatory, problem related, new (policies/procedures/equipment/initiatives), and changes.
• Demonstrates excellent clinical practice and skills, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills. Works with the SPS Leadership Team to maintains accurate records for each employee within the assigned units/area to include Talent Management System (TMS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and all other unit specific documentation of mandatory trainings specific for the SPS department.
• Serves as a resource to staff and to the facility, and serves as a mentor or preceptor to new nurses, student nurses, and other staff. Works collaboratively with schools of Nursing, vocational programs and staff regarding patient care needs and staff development issues.

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.)

• Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols
• Possess valid driver's license as incumbent must travel to Outpatient Clinics for regular educational offerings, roundings, audits, and inspections.

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.