Career Center

This position is located at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in the Cardiology department. 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: 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: The tasks of this position generally require sitting, standing, occasional crouching or kneeling. Moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the procedure and clinic areas and other Medical Center locations. Considerable manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are continuously required. This includes continuous observation of a computer screen. Must meet cardiopulmonary resuscitation demands coordination and stamina. Heavy Lifting (50 LBS and over); Heavy Carrying (50 LBS and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted). ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The registered nurse is responsible for managing complex patient situations, acts as a patient advocate, and provides supportive assistance to all members of the healthcare team. The incumbent is a Registered Nurse who is responsible for the clinical, administrative, research and educational aspects of the assignment. The Invasive Cardiology Staff Nurse demonstrates knowledge and clinical skills related to supporting the Cardiology Section within the Philadelphia VA Medical Center as an expert who is self-directed in a goal-setting environment to ensure the management of complex clinical situations. The incumbent is responsible for competencies of a cardiology staff nurse and conducts a variety of functions to support the Cardiology Section. The following functions are unique to Invasive Cardiology Staff RN. RNs in this program are evaluated on the four dimensions listed below in addition to supporting and collaborating with the functions listed below:\n- Circulates, monitors, assists and operates equipment for all of the various procedures in the Cardiac Cath Lab and Electrophysiology Lab (with-in scope of practice) to include (but not limited to): hemodynamic, fluoroscopic, intravascular ultrasound, fractional flow reserve, temporary pacemakers, defibrillators, intra-aortic balloon pump, electrophysiology recording and mapping equipment, device programmers, tilt table, transesophageal echo, electrosurgical cautery).\n- Provides patient care in the peri-procedure setting for an inpatient and outpatient population both elective and urgent.\n- Functioning as \"Charge\" nurse on a rotating basis.\n- Performs patient vital signs, ECG. Monitor and record vital signs per Cardiology Section protocol.\n- Pre-procedure patient assessment, pre-procedure check-list documentation.\n- Peri-procedural nursing documentation. - Serves as a resource to clinical and non-clinical staff. Provides staff education and in services related to invasive cardiology services.\n- Communicates with patients, Cardiology providers, referring providers and Cardiology Section staff.\n- Schedules and processes paperwork for patient tests, cardiac catheterizations and other invasive procedures, labs, device procedures, or post procedure appointments using appointment management system.\n- Ensure procedure rooms are clean, stocked appropriately and ready for next patient; ensure equipment is clean/sterile and in working order.\n- Monitors patients during cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures.\n- Post procedural care and documentation - Hand-off report to respective nursing units.\n- Communicates and coordinates patient care between physician providers and Cardiology NP/PA team.\n- Reviews patient records for allergies, prior cardiac procedures, procedure pertinent information and consults appropriate staff with issues and/or concerns.\n- Contacts all Veterans scheduled for invasive cardiac procedures to ensure they understand pre-procedural instructions.\n- Contacts Cardiology Fellows, Attending Physicians, and Cardiology Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant with relevant patient information and findings to assure safe patient care through the peri-procedural process.\n- Reviews all relevant patient data pre-procedure and reports relevant findings to Cardiologist/provider. - Documents all encounters and event captures related to procedure visit.\n- Administers medications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support medications and anticoagulants, utilizing all safety precautions.\n- Documents appropriate clinical data in CPRS as it pertains to procedure, outpatient clinic visit. - Maintains competency in Moderate Sedation. - Prepare room, equipment and material needed for patient procedures.\n- Conducts quality control procedures on equipment in procedural area.\n- Adherence to standard precautions as it pertains to patient care.\n- Assists in stocking supplies, reporting shortages and maintaining procedural readiness invasive cardiology area.\n- Facilitates care between Cardiology Section and inpatient testing requests.\n- Acts as preceptor to new staff, coordinating learning activities and evaluating clinical competence as it pertains to functions and procedures performed within the invasive areas of the Cardiology Section. - Active participant in Cardiology Section Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement projects.\n- Adheres to all established Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols within the Medical Center and Cardiology Section.\n- Maintains all Medical Center annual education requirements.\n- Other duties as assigned within clinical scope of practice to support advanced cardiac care. Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO):\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]