The Registered Nurse is responsible for facets of the Wilmington, DE VA Medical Center Infection Control program, including primary responsibility for the oversight of the MDRO program, and other health care professionals to encourage all services to use infection control practices to reduce risk of infection to patients, visitors, and personnel. 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: Minimum of 2-4 years of professional nursing experience, preferred minimum of 2 years recent experience 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. 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: Walking, bending, stooping and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting. ["Including but not limited to: - Serves in the role as a leader for the organization's MDRO Program Coordinator by ensuring all program components are fully implemented and tracking staff compliance with guidelines - Demonstrates expertise in maintaining, and evaluating a comprehensive, integrated MDRO Program as part of the organizational Infection Control Program. - Demonstrates leadership ensuring infection surveillance design is consistent with selected internal or external comparative databases. - Experienced in integrating surveillance findings into the organization's plan for improvement of practice and patient outcomes. - Communicates approved recommendations to appropriate personnel. - Serves as an advisor on developing monitors and related data gathering to ensure infection control compliance. - Consults with interdisciplinary staff for issues related to clinical infectious disease programs (specifically MDRO) and other infection control related issues. - Evaluates accreditation standards relating to Infection Control and ensures that clinical practice and program policies/procedures are following standards. - Makes decisions based on professional standards and current Infection Control information (i.e., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), Nurse Practice Act, American Nurses Association (ANA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Joint Commission standards (JC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), etc.). - Experienced in preparing reports and data to assure resources are efficiently and effectively used in the provision of safe high-quality patient centered care. - As appropriate, collaborates with Employee Health in tracking, trending, and evaluating employee exposures to infectious diseases and other reported infectious symptoms and utilizes this data for planning prevention and control strategies. - Uses expertise in clinical judgement when selecting course of action to ensure compliance of infection control as well as safe patient care with improved outcomes. - Supports the Infection Control/MDRO Program by involving others to improve care. - Demonstrates knowledge and skills to maintain expertise in area of practice - Responsible for maintaining confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print. - Demonstrates knowledge and skills to maintain expertise in area of practice. -Nurse serves as a consultant within the organization and community in regard to infection control. This includes providing appropriate education and training are in place for staff and provides opportunities at staff and multidisciplinary meetings to consulting. - Leads or participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge and enhance role performance. - Initiate and lead quality improvement activities that result in improved outcomes. - Meets required educational requirements within established time frames and maintains required proficiencies - Demonstrates proficiency in computer literacy. - Lead or participates as a member of a professional and/or health related group within the community, Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN) and or nation. - Ability to work independently in prioritizing, planning, and determining methods to accomplish work assignments within the parameters of existing policies, procedures, and operating instructions. 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 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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.
