Career Central

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Madison, WI VA is a 16-bed geriatric/adult critical care unit which cares for patients of Medical, Surgical and Specialty Services. 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: BSN 2 years of ICU 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 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: Walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting in the direct care of patients. There may also be extended periods of sitting. ["VISN 12 is committed to fostering and sustaining an environment which celebrates diversity, provides equitable opportunities for employment and promotion, and supports inclusiveness in our culture. Together, we strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that promote professional growth and teamwork, and are inclusive, equitable and welcoming. We embrace our differences as individuals and unite as a team toward a common goal: to serve our nation's Veterans. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Madison, WI VA is a 16-bed geriatric/adult critical care unit which cares for patients of Medical, Surgical and Specialty Services. Medical conditions include: Sepsis, congestive heart and respiratory failure, acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage, liver failure, drug overdose, severe alcohol withdrawal and unstable metabolic problems requiring vasoactive medications and hemodynamic monitoring. Surgical Services include: Cardiovascular, Thoracic, Transplant, Peripheral Vascular, Neurosurgical, Orthopedic, General Surgery, Urology, ENT and Plastics. Additional conditions include myocardial infarction, unstable angina/arrhythmias, post PTCA, pacemaker placement, subdural hematoma, post-op cardiothoracic surgery, pre/post heart/liver/lung transplant, LVAD implant, post arrest hypothermia, carotid artery and femoral popliteal bypass surgery. Nursing care is provided on a 24-hour basis by registered nurses and nursing assistants. The nursing process of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation is applied in an ongoing, systematic manner to all patients. The ICU provides acute level nursing and RNs are intricately involved in the development, implementation, and evaluation of interdisciplinary care. This requires nursing staff to participate with an interdisciplinary approach in meeting Veteran health care needs, including being an active participant in Interdisciplinary rounds consisting of the entire team of Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Nutrition Service/Dietician, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Pharmacy, and other specialty groups as needed; coordinating care of all patients. This systematic process is applied to all patients with a goal of care to restore the Veteran to maximum function, prevent further decline, maximize independence, and/or provide comfort as necessary. Discharge planning is an essential component of our nursing practice and an interdisciplinary approach for teaching and discharge planning assures continuity of care for the Veterans we serve. RNs respond to Code Blue emergencies and inpatient Rapid Response Calls and recover patients directly from the OR on off tours. RNs are required to complete the basic critical care course and/or successfully pass a competency exam (Basic Knowledge Assessment Test). Each RN must complete a period of supervised practice in the ICU. The length of the orientation will be individualized based on assessments of the new employee's experience and nursing education as well as preceptor and nurse manager's evaluations. No nurse assumes full patient care responsibility or functions as charge nurse until authorized by the nurse manager and completion of the charge nurse classes. Work Schedule: Day/Night rotator or Night Shift available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]