Nurse Practitioner

The Surgical Nurse Practitioner, as a Title 38 advanced practice nurse is responsible for surgical care for any of the subspecialty surgical sections to include call coverage, General Surgery, Vascular, Thoracic, Urology, Orthopedics, Plastics Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Interventional Radiology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, and Anesthesia. Care is provided in the following settings; outpatient, inpatient, operating Room (first assist), telehealth, video visits, and telephone care.

The Registered Nurse I/Level 2 is an ADVANCED BEGINNER nurse, "who can demonstrate marginally acceptable performance, have coped with enough real situations to note (or have pointed out to them by a mentor) the recurring meaningful situational components that are termed 'aspects' of the situation. Aspects require prior experience in actual situations for recognition" (Benner). - In conjunction with the staff surgeon- prioritize, collaborate, and engages in facility performance measures in an effort to provide excellent care delivery processes in an efficient and safe manner. - Collaborates with Attending Surgeons to review and act on routine consults. - Acquires knowledge and applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve patient care. - Acquires knowledge and strives to apply leadership by collaborating with others in process improvement activities. - Supports and enhances patient self-determination. Utilizes and applies available resource for patient and staff in addressing ethical issues. - Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, appropriately reports issues to managements. - Acquires knowledge and skills to continue to gain expertise in area of practice. Participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge, skills and enhance role performance. - Evaluates practice of self using professional standards. - Uses group process to identify, analyze and resolve care problems. - Seeks out and participates in quality improvement activities that result in improved outcomes. - Reviews and applies research to validate and or change self practice to improve patient outcomes The Registered Nurse I/Level 3 is a COMPETENT nurse; "competence develops when the nurse begins to see his or her actions in terms of long-range goals or plans of which he or she is consciously aware. The plan dictates which attributes and aspect of the current and contemplated future situation are to be considered most important and those which can be ignored. A plan establishes a perspective, and the plan is based on considerable conscious, abstract, analytic contemplation of the problem. The competent nurse lacks the speed and flexibility of the proficient nurse but does have a feeling of mastery and the ability to cope with and manage the many contingencies of clinical nursing. The conscious, deliberate planning that is characteristic of this skill level helps achieve efficiency and organization" (Benner). - In conjunction with the staff surgeon- prioritizes, collaborate and engages in facility performance measures in an effort to provide excellent care delivery processes in an efficient and safe manner. - Assumes responsibility for review of routine consults and communicates with Attending Surgeon and requesting providers regarding additional care needs. - Applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve patient care. - Develops leadership by involving others in process improvement activities. - Supports and enhances patient self-determination. Provides resources for patient and staff in addressing ethical issues. - Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, taking appropriate action. - Acquires knowledge and skills to expand expertise in area of practice. Participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge, skills and enhance role performance. - Evaluates practice of self and others using professional standards. - Uses group process to identify, analyze and resolve care problems. 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: 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.