Summary The Surgical Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based specialty care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses and health technicians, as appropriate to the clinic setting. Currently there is one vacancy at the Kearny Mesa VA Clinic at 8875 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123-2251 Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Surgical Specialty Clinic RN assumes the following major duties and responsibilities: Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and leadership in improving patient care using the nursing process for patients requiring specialized or complex care in an outpatient surgical clinic setting. Provides direct patient care as required. Is a subject-matter expert for their Specialty Service(s) and acts as a resource for staff and patients. Participates with RNCC to navigate Veterans through the pre-op process including necessary appointments, testing, education, to optimize surgical care. Maintains mandatory and clinical competencies required for the position. Directs LVNs, HT under their supervision. Functions as a liaison between all members of the Surgical Specialty team (administration, attending, residents, etc.), clinic staff, the Ambulatory Service Unit (ASU), Operating Room (OR) in-patient nursing units, sterile processing services (SPS) and other departments involved in veteran care, internal and external customer service. Provides excellent customer service as a liaison between patients and families to provide education, emotional support, care coordination within the medical facility or non-VA contract facilities. Triages and addressed phone messages, secure messages and consults as dictated per Service. Collaborate with Health Administrative Service (HAS) personnel to coordinate scheduling of patients as needed. Participates in scrubbing clinics to ensure orders for clinic are present per Nursing Standard Procedure Protocols. Assures all diagnostic tests are completed and resulted prior to clinic visits. Addresses psychological needs of orthopedic patients as needed. Provides education to staff and families regarding the plan of care during clinic visit. Collaborates with multiple disciplines/departments to improve clinic efficiency and delivery of patient care. Assists with hospital admissions and refers patients to the ED when appropriate. Assists with arranging transportation, home-care needs, lodging as needed. Participates or Initiates performance improvement activities to include, at a minimum, customer satisfaction, chart reviews, and audits. Serves as a mentor/preceptor for new staff. Performs RME updates, develops protocols and unit policies as needed. Collaborates with an inter-professional team to improve clinic efficiency and delivery of patient care. Coordinate follow-up appointments prior to discharge. Maintains BLS Certification Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills for effective information exchange and problem solving with all levels of management and staff, consultants, and outside agencies. Demonstrates strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with ability to quickly analyze problems, determine appropriate level of intervention, and develop and apply effective solutions, recognizing his/her scope of practice. Responds to changing priorities and resources with optimism, encouraging staff to respond positively and proactively. Supports department strategic planning and assists unit-based educational program and activities. Ensures equipment is functional before use. Removes broken equipment from services and immediately reports defective equipment to supervisor. Participates in training for self and others for professional development activities aligned with VA mission, goals, and objectives. Participates in completion of initial and ongoing staff competencies. Provides at least two formal in-services to staff annually. Demonstrates ability to utilize computer systems in the performance of daily duties. Reads work emails on each assigned shift. Provides constructive and timely input on performance appraisals. Provides constructive and timely self-assessment input for annual performance appraisals. Demonstrates flexibility in schedule, tours of duty, and assignments. The position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments. Performs other duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: 1-2 yrs in ambulatory care, surgical specialty clinics, primary care, women's health, podiatry, urology, gynecology, inpatient care, and/or emergency. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: 0800 - 1630 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to 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 Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12564455. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted. 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 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. 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 accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.