Summary

Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to employees while developing technical skills. Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.

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/12751601
• 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: Knowledge of Sterile Processing/Reusable Medical Devices re-processing
• BSN (Preferred) 1-2 Years Nursing Education in Sterile Processing
• 2-3 Years experience in two of the following areas: Sterile Processing Leadership Sterile Processing Education Sterile Processing Training Sterile Processing Quality Management - OR - Surgery - and/or Endoscopy Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• 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
• In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• The Sterile Processing Service (SPS) Reusable Medical Device (RMD) Coordinator is a Registered Nurse (RN) who provides leadership and oversight to assure safety and efficacy in the management of reusable medical devices and equipment (RMD)
• This includes but is not limited to: researching current guidelines and standards relating to the life cycle of RMD
• development and implementation of standard operating procedures using the manufacturer validated instructions for use (IFU) - coordination of evaluation and acquisition of RMD - advises clinical users of required procedures for use - transport - pre-treatment - sterilization and storage of semi-critical and critical RMD - including ensuring release and/or use of new RMD does not occur until verification of SOPs development and training to clinical users and sterile processing technicians has been completed
• Develops and provides RMD Champion training to ensure clinical users have resources (for example - access to IFU/SOPs - medical grade transport containers - access to PPE for pre-treatment) to manage unit RMD safely and effectively
• Coordinates across services and/or disciplines which can influence the organizational mission - vision - values - and strategic priorities for RMD
• Monitors - analyzes - and provides consultation on infection control issues regarding RMD
• Participates in clinical rounds and tracers to assist in the verification of each service's SOPs for RMD
• Investigates the need for any manufacturer and model-specific SOP required for new RMD at the time of the acquisition request
• When new or revised SOPs are required - obtains the necessary information from the manufacturer or vendor
• Coordinates development of SOPs with clinical users and RMD Champions - encourages knowledge sharing and standardization of equipment - materials - and products used throughout the healthcare system
• Educates hospital staff - including the executive level - on all new equipment to ensure compliance is met as it relates to RMD
• The RMD Coordinator will be required to travel to the various Community Outpatient Clinics and the Lee County Healthcare Center in Cape Coral to maintain oversight of RMD throughout Bay Pines Healthcare System
• The Registered Nurse (RN): The scope of the RMD Coordinator is primarily relating to semi-critical and critical RMD - however non-critical items are reviewed for the ability of the facility to properly clean and disinfect them according to VHA requirements
• This scope includes acquisition - cleaning - sterilization/high level disinfection - packaging - storage - pre-treatment - and clean/soiled transport
• The RMD Coordinator assesses - monitors - analyzes - and evaluates educational needs in conjunction with facility requirements and the needs of SPS technicians and of clinical end-users (i.e. - Surgery - Endoscopy - Dental) The RMD Coordinator monitors - analyzes and provides consultation on infection control issues regarding RMD
• The RMD Coordinator has system-wide responsibilities with RMD - but primarily for C.W
• Bill Young and the Lee County Health Care Center - with some travel requirements
• Responsible for participating within unit based and/or organizational level Shared Governance councils - utilizing clinical expertise - evidence-based practice - and knowledge to assist with finding solutions to problems or issues to improve the quality care provided to our veterans
• 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 - 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to highly qualified candidate
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized