Summary

The Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse provides specialized care in the assessment - planning - implementing and evaluation of care throughout the peri-anesthesia continuum to include the Pre-Anesthesia Phase - Post-Anesthesia Phase I - Post-Anesthesia Phase II - and extended care from sedation/analgesia and/or anesthesia for surgical - diagnostic - and therapeutic procedures.

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/12978433
• 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
• Preferred Experience: 1 year PACU or 2 years Critical Care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The Registered Nurse (RN) must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting and turning
• It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers
• Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients
• The work may involve pushing or lifting in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care
• The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients
• The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures
• The RN may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The RN must be mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities - based on patient needs.

Duties

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpaTtyybXFQ Major Duties: Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to - the following: Possess knowledge related to the physiology associated with various anesthesia techniques and surgical interventions
• Assess and prepare patients for procedures appropriately
• Perform clinical assessments of the patient and readily recognizes contraindication for anesthesia and/or surgical intervention
• Apply the appropiate post sedation scoring and assess the patient's postoperative status to include cardiovascular and respiratory systems and airway management needs - neurological system - hemodynamic stability - pain - and comfort needs and mental status - implementing appropriate interventions to maintain or return all physiological system to baseline or above
• Maintain knowledge of current American Society of Peri-Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directives and service level standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive documenting of all phases of care is timely - complete - and accurate in the Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Collaborate in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients
• Provide peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Support colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• Evaluate outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documenting broad and complex outcomes at the program or service level - that can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• May be required to perform on-call duties
• 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 from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized