The New Mexico VA Health Care System offers an exciting program for new graduate RNs! Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met 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. This requirement is waived for RN TTP nursing candidates. You can be hired while pending examination for your license. You will be hired as a temporary employee and converted to a permanent employee once you have obtained licensure. Preferred Experience: RN graduate from an accredited nursing program with less than 1 year of experience as an RN. 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. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Fully licensed Registered Nurses will be offered a permanent appointment. Nurse Graduates pending licensure will be offered a temporary appointment not to exceed one year, pending boarding and license. Once licensed, you will be converted to a permanent appointment. For foreign education equivalency the only certifying body the VA recognizes is CGFNS and its' subsidiary, International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Without certification of BSN-equivalency, the VA can only consider the degree at the associates level and pay will be determined accordingly. 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. 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. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP) Residency is a comprehensive program developed to support the post graduate Registered Nurse (RN) during the first year of clinical practice in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. The post graduate RN will participate in classes, hands-on training, and clinical preceptorship working closely with program instructors and facility nurses and throughout the program. The length of clinical orientation will vary according to assigned unit/units, learning needs, competence, and progress of the RN. Clinical experiences and didactic sessions are scheduled during the year-long program to facilitate transition and achieve competency in key knowledge, skills, and responsibilities of a registered nurse. RN Transition to Practice Registered Nurses are required to attend all scheduled learning experiences (or an alternate assignment based on the facility level RNTTP Residency Program Directors' direction), complete required projects and written assignments. The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program reports to the RN Transition-to-Practice Residency Program Director with second line reporting to the Chief Nurse Academic Affairs and/or Associate Director for Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse Executive. The RN in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program will be enrolled into a 12-month program which will take place primarily at a facility level. The RN in the Transition-to-Practice Residency Program is required to attend the 12 month program that includes completion of program surveys, hands-on clinical training, classroom training, simulation training, preceptorship, mentorship, shadowing experiences, and individual and/or group project assignments; including an evidence based or quality project. The RN is required to attend or complete alternate assignment for all trainings/activities to successfully complete the program. At completion of the RNTTP Residency Program the RN will be assigned a specific practice area based on facility need if the RN does not already have a practice area. The RN delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The registered nurse works closely with preceptors with a goal of developing skills and judgment to utilize the nursing process in real situations. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. Duties include, but are not limited to: Provide specialized direct and indirect care to patients within a designated specialty. Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs. Monitor or evaluate medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other health care professionals. Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty areas. Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment programs based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients, or by analyzing patient records. Document nursing interventions, therapeutic measure administered, patient's reactions, patient teaching and understanding. Administer therapeutic measures as prescribed by the physician to include, but not limited to, medication administration, intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, treatments and maintains those measures taken which are ongoing in nature. Participate in the development, updating and evaluation of standards of care and quality improvement monitoring. Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care. 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: Full-Time, Rotating Shifts, Weekends, and Holidays depending on unit assignment. (Must be available to work all shifts, including weekends and holidays; Be available to work as scheduled on assigned units (Shifts may be 12 hours, 8 hours, or a combination of both); Work week will vary, but includes weekdays, weekends and holidays; Shifts vary, but will include nights/days/evenings.) Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
