Registered Nurse; Acute Care, Operating Room

Summary

The Perioperative Operating Room Registered Nurse is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for the patient undergoing a surgical or invasive procedure. They assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age‑specific components and assume responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self‑management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. They administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines.

• English Language Proficiency – in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) all direct patient care personnel must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency (ACEN or CCNE).
• Or currently enrolled in a master’s‑level bridge program with nursing coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree may become registered as an RN with a state licensing board prior to completion.
• Upon achievement of a state license, the individual may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment after completion of the bridge program.
• In the case of foreign nursing graduates with current, full, active, and unrestricted registration in a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia, the graduate will meet the requirement for completion of an approved professional nursing education program.
• Foreign nursing education higher than an associate degree requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: candidates meeting education requirements but lacking licensure may be appointed at the entry step as a GNT on a 120‑day temporary appointment while pursuing licensure.
• Grade determination includes scope, education, and dimension criteria for each level from Nurse I to Nurse III, as detailed in the online assessment and qualification standard.
• Physical Requirements:
  
  moderate lifting (15‑44 lbs), straight pulling, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, both hands, both legs, both eyes, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors.
• Environmental Factors: slippery or uneven walking surfaces and close collaboration with others.
• Reference: Qualification Standards

• Plan, direct, and coordinate the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures with respect for the individual and recognition of each team member’s contribution.
• Function proficiently as a circulator and in the scrub role within the OR, competent in all surgical specialties served.
• Maintain knowledge of current Association of Peri‑Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards, VHA Directives, and service‑level standard operating procedures.
• Assure sterility of the surgical field and safe, efficient use of instrumentation and equipment.
• Protect the patient from injury caused by chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal sources and extraneous objects; perform counting procedures and participate in the Time‑Out process to ensure correct site, side, and level, and follow implant and tissue‑based product documentation, policy, and procedures.
• Manage the patient's specimens appropriately, administer medications safely and correctly, perform interventions to maintain wound and tissue perfusion, and protect against surgical site infection.
• Ensure comprehensive and timely documentation of all care in the electronic health record.
• Provide on‑call coverage for emergency procedures during assigned off‑tour hours.
• Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.

• VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay:
  Competitive salary with regular increases and potential for performance awards.
• Paid Time Off: 50 days per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays).
• Retirement:
  Traditional federal pension (5-year vesting) and federal 401(K) with up to 5% contribution by VA.
• Insurance:
  Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long‑term care (many federal programs transferable into retirement).
• Licensure:
  One full, unrestricted license from any U.S. state, territory, or District of Columbia.
• Work Schedule:
  
  7:00 am–3:30 pm MST, Monday–Friday with rotating on‑call requirements.
• Compressed/Flexible and Telework:
  Not available.
• Relocation/Recruitment
  
  Incentives:
  
  Not authorized;
  Permanent Change of Station:
  Not authorized.