Career Center

The Richmond VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Registered Nurse for Hospice & Palliative Care Unit. The goal of the unit is to promote quality in life, dignity in death and support in bereavement for veterans living with a life-threatening illness and too promote the dignity and independence of our patients to the greatest extent possible. 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. Preferred Experience: BSN 2-3 years Nursing experience Long-Term and Palliative and Hospice Care 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["Journey's Way (Unit 1Q), the Community Living Center's 12- bed In-patient Hospice & Palliative Care unit. The unit provides care to Veterans who are receiving palliative chemotherapy, palliative radiation, palliative rehabilitation, and Veterans who are at end of life. Veterans may discharge home, to community facilities, or stay on the unit for end of life. Those veterans admitted to our inpatient Hospice Palliative Care Unit receive specialized services, through symptom management. The specialized symptom management care includes but is not limited too metastatic cancers, end-stage pulmonary disease. end stage heart failure, neurological, AIDS, and Alzheimer's Diseases. Hospice Care and Palliative care are both provided by an interdisciplinary team, which includes a physician, nurse, social worker, psychologist, chaplain, and nutritionist. Hospice Care and Palliative Care focuses on providing a caring, resident/family centered approach that responds to physical, emotional, spiritual and bereavement needs of terminally ill Veterans. The Hospice and Palliative Care Services are built upon the principles of comfort, dignity, autonomy, conscientious objection, and self-determination. The Hospice and Palliative Care Services are built upon the principles of comfort, dignity, choice, and control. The function of the Registered Nurse is to provide, direct and supervise the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse Veteran population. Duties include, but not limited to: Relies on preceptor to set work flow and identify responsibilities. Completes initial assessments and reassessments of assigned patients as directed. Completes plan of care for patients and updates plan of care based on assessments. Documents in a complete and comprehensive manner all assessments, findings, education and interactions with patients or their family units. Administers medications in a safe and efficient manner following established policies. Inserts and manages peripheral intravenous access (PIV) Manages central venous access sites, infusion of continuous fluids and administers IV push medications under direct supervision of preceptor. (Note- can manage without direct observation of preceptor once, competency has been established/validated.). Completes admission and discharge of patients/residents in accordance with established unit policies. Provides patient education and documents the same, reinforcing physician education. - Accurately receives and verifies physician orders. Provides direct patient care specific to activities of daily living (AOL) in a safe and efficient manner. Follows instructions provided by charge nurse, nurse manager/assistant nurse manager, physician or other supervisory personnel. Additional duties may be assigned as appropriate by supervisory personnel. Collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary treatment team and ancillary services to plan and implement the Veteran's plan of care; Management of care and support of the veteran coping with chronic diseases or end of life care issues. This will include the management, of spiritual, psychosocial, emotional care for the veteran in this life cycle. Responsible for administering, monitoring, documenting, and evaluating therapeutic interventions and regiments specific to long term and hospice/palliative care residents. Perform psychosocial assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of health care needs and care of specific patients and their significant others/families. Provide population specific and age-specific care for patients from young adulthood to older veterans in the senior years of life. Work collaboratively with all levels of health care professional and support staff to facilitate positive patient care outcomes. Initiate, plan, implement, evaluate, and appropriately document patient care based on identified measurable outcomes in the applicable assigned patient care environment. Skills in time management, priority setting, assessment and urgent intervention are essential for this unit Based on education and experience, may be assigned responsibilities as team leader and/ or charge nurse. Work Schedule: To be determined by Nurse Manager upon selection. Full time, Days with rotation, Evening or Nights, Weekend and Holiday Rotation Required. 8 hours shifts\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]