Registered Nurse (RN) - Med Surg
Department of Veterans Affairs
Dublin, GA

OCA Transition to Practice RN (TTP)

Summary Carl Vinson VAMC offers an exciting program for new graduate RNs! The Registered Nurse Transition to Practice Program (RN-TTP) is a 12-month residency program. The TTP is designed for the post graduate registered nurse who has completed an entry level nursing degree at the diploma, associate degree, bachelor's degree, or Master's degree level. Classes are held at the Dublin VAMC. If this is your first job in nursing or if you graduated less that one year ago, this program is for you! Learn more about this agency Help Overview * Accepting applications * Open & closing dates 01/08/2024 to 12/31/2024 * Salary $71,954 - $102,166 per year * Pay scale & grade GS 00 * Help Location * Dublin, GA * Remote job No * Telework eligible No * Travel Required Not required * Relocation expenses reimbursed No * Appointment type Permanent - * Work schedule Full-time - * Service Excepted * Promotion potential 00 * Job family (Series) 0610 Nurse * Supervisory status No * Security clearance Other * Drug test Yes * Position sensitivity and risk Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk * Trust determination process Credentialing Suitability/Fitness National security * Announcement number CBTB-12268758-24-NTM * Control number 769408300 Help This job is open to * Federal employees - Excepted service Current excepted service federal employees. * Recent graduates Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans. * The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S. * Veterans Clarification from the agency OPEN TO THE PUBLIC This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) is for recent Diploma in Nursing, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master Degree in Nursing (MSN) graduates in their first licensed registered nurse role or with less than one (1) year of professional registered nurse experience. Videos Help Duties OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 31, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 22, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks. 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 The Registered Nurse Transition to Practice (RNTTP) Residency is a comprehensive developmental program developed to support the post-graduate Registered Nurse (RN) during the first year of clinical practice in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings including long-term care. * The postgraduate registered nurse will participate in an orientation program and be assigned to a qualified preceptor who will work closely with them during the unit-based clinical orientation. * The length of clinical orientation will vary according to assigned unit/units, learning needs, competence, and progress of the RN. * Clinical experiences and didactic sessions are scheduled during the year to facilitate transition and achieve competency in key knowledge, skills, and responsibilities of a registered nurse. * Transition to Practice Registered Nurses are required to attend all scheduled learning experiences and complete required projects and written assignments. * Provide specialized direct and indirect care to patients within a designated specialty. * Observe, interview, and assess patients to identify care needs. * Monitor or evaluate the medical conditions of patients in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. * Develop, implement, or evaluate standards of nursing practice in specialty areas. * Plan, evaluate, or modify treatment programs based on information gathered by observing and interviewing patients, or by analyzing patient records. * Document nursing interventions, therapeutic measures administered, patient's reactions, patient teaching, and understanding. * Administer therapeutic measures as prescribed by the physician to include, but not limited to, medication administration, intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, and treatments and maintain those measures taken which are ongoing. * Participate in the development, updating, and evaluation of standards of care and quality improvement monitoring. * Collaborate with other health care professionals and service providers to ensure optimal patient care. Work Schedule: Must be available to work all shifts, including weekends and holidays. Work week will vary but will include nights/days/evenings with the assigned preceptor. Compressed/Flexible: NA Telework: NA Virtual: This is not a virtual position. NA Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Help Requirements Conditions of Employment * 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. * Must be proficient in written and spoken English. * You may be required to serve a probationary period. * Subject to background/security investigation. * Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. * 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). * Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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 an 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. Required Experience: Graduation from ACEN or CCNE accredited RN program, Current and unrestricted RN license in any state, NCLEX Certification, Post-graduate RN with less than one year of professional nursing 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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 position requires light to moderate lifting and carrying (up to 44 pounds), straight pulling (1 hour), pushing (1-3 hours), reaching above the shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (4 hours), standing (2-7 hours), kneeling (2 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), climbing (use of legs and arms), both legs required, operation of the crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle, the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual requirement, both eyes required, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid permitted), sitting (8 hours), simple grasping (2-4 hours), fine manipulation (including keyboarding 4-6 hours), twisting (2 hours), and mental and emotional stability. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Read more * Benefits Help A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. 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 by a Nurse Professional Standards Board 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 four dimensions of nursing: Practice, Professional Development, Collaboration and Scientific Inquiry. 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.