The Urgent Care (UC) Nurse is assigned to the Patient Care Service who cares for a specific population of Veterans in a variety of settings. These settings include, however are not limited to, emergency department, primary care clinics, specialty clinics/programs, extended care programs, community-based outpatient clinics, inpatient care, residential, and ambulatory surgery programs. The RN incorporates Veteran age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, and learning abilities in the plan of care. 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. Preferred Experience: One year of ER or Urgent Care experience preferred but not required. 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's 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: This position requires moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds; Light carrying under 15 pounds; Pushing for 1 hour; Walking for 2-4 hours; Standing for 2-4 hours; kneeling for 1 hour; Repeated bending for 1 hour; Climbing with legs only for 1 hour; Both legs required; Ability to distinguish basic and shades of colors; Hearing aid permitted. Environmental factors: Working closely with others; Protracted or irregular hours of work. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Urgent Care (UC) Nurse duties are but not limited to: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice in providing care to Veterans with basic or complex needs. (VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G6). Executes position responsibilities that demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex Veteran/resident care. Zeros in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful, alternative diagnoses and solutions\" (Benner). Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of Veterans/residents. Responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility, VISN, or VACO. Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting Veterans/residents and/or employees. Demonstrates leadership that is sustainable regardless of role and incorporates professional standards of care and implements broad-reaching evidence-based change. Practice follows the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses. Actively leads groups and takes the lead in practice changes in the facility nursing community and beyond. Actively volunteers and participates on committees. Provides the least restrictive, most cost-effective manner through use of the clinical practice guidelines and clinical pathways. Evidence of health promotion and chronic disease indices monitored through the clinical practice guidelines and performance measures. Practices the eight core competencies of the High Performance Development Model (HPDM) and the Veterans Administration Core Values of ICARE incorporated into the dimensions of practice that support their application. Incorporates and implements the requirements of the other qualification standards. Utilizes the nursing process to assess patients who present to the UCC for care. Performs triage assessments on the patients and classifying them using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) a five-level triage algorithm that provides clinically relevant stratification of patients into five groups from 1 (most urgent) to 5 (least urgent) on the basis of acuity and resource needs. Executes evidence based nursing practice actions to care for the patient based on the determined acuity level. In this capacity. Responsible for the initiation of the standardized protocol orders outlined in the facility memorandum including conducting a focused assessment based on the patient's condition, reporting abnormal findings to the UCC providers, implementing nursing protocol/providers' orders, and evaluating the patient's response to all treatments and interventions. Initiates interdisciplinary referrals for patients who require specialized services such as social work, mental health, diabetes education and wound care. Plays a pivotal role as the patient advocate on the interdisciplinary team collaborating with all other team members to assure optimal, timely and above all, safe care for the patient. Work Schedule: Work Schedule: Ten hour shifts, Monday - Friday 08:00 am - 6:00 pm\nTelework: Not available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]