Career Center

The Atlanta VA Health Care System is actively recruiting for Registered Nurses for the Nursing Call Center. This nurse functions as an expert communicator over the telephone, providing timely, appropriate advice and/or guidance to Veterans who seek assistance with health care issues. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized. 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. 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. 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. NOTE: Nurse III must demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. The Nurse III is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level. In order to be considered for appointment to Nurse III, outcomes must be documented. Meeting the Practice dimension involves incorporating and implementing the requirements of the other qualification standards, including: (a) Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. (b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making and evaluating outcomes. (c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or in areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. (d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within area of expertise. (e) Guiding, developing and supporting staff from a leadership perspective.(f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. 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: Heavy Lifting (45lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 4 hours); Repeated bending (up to 2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted). ["Within the practice setting, key components in the nursing skill set include spoken communication skills, logical problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills. The nurse utilizes approved clinical decision support tools and establishes a relationship, collects subjective and objective data based on implicit and explicit information, analyzes the data to identify and prioritize Veteran needs. This includes the initiation and continuation of the nursing process. It is a complex role, requiring flexibility and independent decision-making as well as multi-focal collaboration with the Veteran and family. Develops a plan of care and facilitates implementation of the plan of care to meet the Veteran's immediate and future health care needs and to achieve mutually agreed upon outcomes. The nurse identifies emergent situations and initiates the necessary interventions. The nurse functions as a patient advocate, facilitating accessibility to care. Utilizes the nursing process, nursing skills, technology, research and all available resources to maximize the delivery of safe, efficient, high quality care to a variety of critically ill patients. Functions as a primary nurse accountable for planning and coordinating the delivery of care of critically ill patients. Practices within the guidelines of policies, procedures, standards of care, and scope of practice competencies relating to critical care nursing. Acts in collaborative and collegial roles with other critical care center health professionals and other department personnel for safe and effective care of critically ill patients Recognizes and responds promptly and appropriately to emergency situations. Participates in unit-based teaching and research projects. Assumes responsibility for maintaining own level of knowledge and clinical competence in critical care nursing through hospital-based in-services, independent study, mandatory reviews and continuing education programs. Active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs. Centralized call center that provides Nurse Triage to the Veterans that receive care at the hospitals and clinics within the VA. Veterans' health concerns can be psychologic and/or physical in nature. The Telephone Triage Nurse is a registered nurse responsible and accountable for provision of compassionate, direct patient care through the telephone triage system. This nurse functions as an expert communicator over the telephone, providing timely, appropriate advice and/or guidance to Veterans who seek assistance with health care issues. Within the practice setting, key components in the nursing skill set include spoken communication skills, logical problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills. Responsibilities include the initiation and continuation of the nursing process. It is a complex role, requiring flexibility and independent decision-making as well as multi-focal collaboration. In collaboration with the Veteran and family, the nurse utilizes approved clinical decision support tools and establishes a relationship, collects subjective and objective data based on implicit and explicit information, analyzes the data to identify and prioritize Veteran needs, develops a plan of care and facilitates implementation of the plan of care to meet the Veteran's immediate and future health care needs and to achieve mutually agreed upon outcomes. The nurse identifies emergent situations and initiates the necessary interventions. The nurse functions as a patient advocate, facilitating accessibility to care. Performs other duties as assigned my management. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm\nTelework: Not Available.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]