Registered Nurse - Spinal Cord Injury Unit

The Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments. Seeks guidance in how to improve care provided to patients and families.

The Spinal Cord Injury RN assumes the following major duties and responsibilities:

1. Provides and supervises direct patient care.

2. Adheres to hospital policies, procedures, and standards of practice.

3. Competent in all the Spinal Cord Injury Universal Core requirements that include but are not limited to competency in psychomotor skills, cognitive and affective skills.

4. Competent in recognizing and managing Autonomic Dysreflexia.

5. Performs procedures or seeks help when needed, such as IV insertion, blood transfusions, urinary catheter insertion and care.

6. Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care. Reports equipment in need of repair.

7. Assesses the patient's learning needs, learning preference, and readiness to learn. Modifies teaching approach based on knowledge of human behavior, motivations, and reactions to situations.

8. Initiates and implements an interdisciplinary plan of care based on assessments.

9. Uses required Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and the Bar-Code Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy.

10. Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and patients and families in educational needs and discharge planning.

11. Provides leadership in establishing goals, evaluating the plan of care, and in discharge planning.

12. Organizes and completes own assignments in a safe and timely manner, assisting team members as necessary.

13. Manages problems safely and effectively, recognizing his/her scope of practice.

14. Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills.

15. Demonstrates compliance with infection control practices, such as hand washing and wearing of appropriate personal equipment.

16. Maintains knowledge and understanding of accreditation standards such as the Joint Commission, Ascellon, and CARF requirements and ensures compliance.

17. Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience:

* >1 year of Spinal Cord Injury or Rehabilitation experience preferred.
* >2 years of RN experience preferred.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Pay:
Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards

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:

Monday - Friday  or

Telework:
Not Available

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment

Incentives:

Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized