Registered Nurse – Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

Responsible for all elements of the nursing process. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. Responsible for the coordination of care, self-management, and customer satisfaction. Administers medications and procedures.

Collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse – Spinal Cord Injury is responsible for but not limited to: Leads and organizes delivery of care Applies advanced clinical knowledge/judgement to lead staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluation outcomes Applies nursing expertise to lead improvement, with demonstrated outcomes Leads initiatives to improve the Veteran Experience Demonstrates leadership in patient advocacy by protecting the health, safety and rights of patient population groups Leads staff to identify, analyze and address ethical issues that impact patients, caregivers and staff Models' high reliability principles and I CARE values Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills, professional behaviors and leadership Actively participates in healthcare facility or service-level committees or councils Leads with emotional and social intelligence Demonstrates resilience in coping with challenging and stressful situations, to assist others in increasing their self-determination and competence Excels in making appropriate judgements Demonstrates integrity in the workplaces and facilitates formal and informal mentoring opportunities Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams that utilize critical thinking Leads educational initiatives Accountable for personal and professional career goals Guides the professional growth of others Advances nursing practice through contributions to knowledge development or education Demonstrates expertise in evidence-based practice/research Demonstrates expertise in managing resources that contribute to efficient, cost-effective care and, sharing knowledge Demonstrates expertise in performance improvement by leading initiatives and sharing outcomes Demonstrates expertise by integrating patient preferences into care delivery decisions and sharing knowledge and outcomes with peers 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, 7:30 pm – 8:00 am, with rotational shifts weekends/holidays; subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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.

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 identification 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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: Candidate’s education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research.

Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Full Length CV/Resume Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week, name of Institution to include degree conferred date, and License State / Expiration Date.
• Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience is creditable according to its relationship to a full-time workweek.
• For example, if you are employed 20 hours per week, or on a half time basis, would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service.
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (If needed for Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
• The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Full Length CV/Resume Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA.
• When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans' Preference.