advanced practice nurse - Lebanon, PA , USA, United States - Department of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

This is an open continuous announcement. Candidates will be referred every two weeks.

Nurse Anesthesia is an advanced clinical nursing specialty based upon a graduate level curriculum focused on development of clinical judgment and critical thinking.

CRNAs are qualified to render patients insensible to pain and emotional stress during surgical, obstetrical, diagnostic and invasive procedures utilizing general and regional anesthesia and all levels of sedation techniques.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

04/22/2024 to 09/30/2024

• Salary

$156,796 - $236,889 per year

• Pay scale & grade

VN 00

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Lebanon, PA
• 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

3

• Job family (Series)

0610 Nurse

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Not Required

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CBSZ TDW

• Control number

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This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

• Federal employees - Excepted service

Current excepted service federal employees.

• The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Areas Of Consideration: 1) Current Permanent Employees of the Agency 2) All Other Qualified Applicants

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Duties

This position is located at the Lebanon VA Medical Center.

The operating room consists of 4 general operating rooms, Three endoscopy suites, a SDU (pre-operative preparation area) and a PACU (post-operative care unit).

Assigned duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Patient Selection - anesthesia assessments, pre-operative evaluation, completion of patient evaluation forms, discussion of patient management with anesthesiologist, pre-operative orders and patient education.

Patient Monitoring - performance of sedation (mild, moderate and deep) and general anesthesia with minimal staff assistance, provide regional anesthetics with staff assistance, restock of anesthesia equipment at end of day.

Post Operative Care - arrange for monitored care with PACU/SICU nurse at completion of case, enter follow up note for each patient, participate in Total Quality Improvement Program, maintain emergency equipment, answer Code Blue / Emergency Airway calls as duties permit, supervise and manage postoperative analgesia.

Administrative - take call with second CRNA, participate in development of call schedule, maintain professional competence/credentials/licensure, participate in hospital committees, assist with ordering of supplies for the department, maintain familiarity with SOP/MCM/VA directives, participate in orientation and instruction of students during clinical rotations.

Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday (7:00am - 3:30pm) Night, Holiday and weekend call as needed


Telework:
Not available


Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized


Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required

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

Certification.

1 full and current Certification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) or an equivalent Nurse Anesthetist certification recognized by the COA.

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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.
• 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


Preferred Experience:

• Minimum 5 years as a CRNA, preferable 10 years of experience

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.
• Education: A masters or doctoral degree in nurse anesthesia.
• Education Accreditation Requirement.

Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing anesthesia accredited by the following accrediting organization at the time the program was completed by the applicant:

• The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs (COA). The COA is currently located at 222 South Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL Additional information may be obtained from the COA website at Council on Accreditation - Supporting Quality Assessment and Improvement in Nurse Anesthesia Education ).
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing.

Nursing education must be from a school of professional nursing accredited by one of the following accrediting organizations 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).

• Licensure and Certification. The following licensure and certification requirements are considered conditions of employment.
• License. All APNs (CNAs) must maintain an active, current, full and unrestricted license to practice as a CNA or equivalent, in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
• Basic Certification. All APNs (CNAs) must maintain full and current Certification by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) or an equivalent Nurse Anesthetist certification recognized by the COA.
• Grade Requirements.
• Grade Determination. In addition to the basic qualification requirements, the grade level of an APN (CNA) is based on a combination of education and experience. Beyond the minimum education requirements, grade determination for appointment, advancement and promotion will be based on the following specific requirement for the APN (CNA).
• APN (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) II.
• Education and Experience Requirement. Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APNs (CNAs); no experience is required.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. The following list of knowledge, skills and abilities present the minimum skill set expected of an Entry Level CNA.

Entry level into practice may include but are not limited to the following:

• Ability to translate into anesthesia care the principles of professional nursing practice including the patients' rights to autonomy, dignity, privacy and safety.
• Knowledge of current research and practice guidelines to frame anesthesia practice including up to date techniques, pharmacology and equipment.
• Ability to obtain, document and verify informed anesthesia consent and perform a pre-anesthetic patient history and physical, which includes managing pre-operative consults and interpreting data.
• Ability to formulate a patient-specific anesthetic plan and describe salient anesthetic risks, benefits and options to the patient.
• Ability to administer inhalational, regional, intravenous, local and topical anesthetics.
• Skill in detecting and treating anesthesia or surgically related physiologic changes and ability to treat accordingly in order to maintain homeostasis.
• Skill in assessing patient status for appropriateness of transfer of care to another healthcare provider and communicating essential patient information to other providers effectively.
• Ability to participate in collaborative responsibility for proper patient positioning, physiologic monitoring, infection control and anesthesia documentation.
• Skill in responding to emergency situations by providing airway management, fluid and medication administration, invasive line insertion and management and the use of advanced cardiac life support techniques.
• Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession, (e.g., ultrasound techniques.)
• Ability to practice anesthesia in an interdisciplinary environment utilizing a collaborative concept of anesthesia care.
• Knowledge of quality improvement processes to maintain ongoing review and evaluation of anesthesia care to improve outcomes.
• Ability to demonstrate a practice emphasis on safety, current established guidelines and protocols while recognizing the duty to report unsafe conditions or errors.
• APN (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) III.
• Education and Experience Requirement.
• Meets basic education requirement for an APN (CNA)
• One year of specialized APN (CNA) experience equivalent to the APN (CNA) II grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Progressively responsible experience in the administration of anesthetics as indicated in the knowledge, skills and abilities listed below.
• Ability to plan, administer and manage anesthesia for a broad range of complex surgical procedures skillfully employing continuous assessment and anesthetic adaptation based on patient response and comorbidities. Work assignments will vary by facility.
• Ability to participate in assignments that are technically challenging, encompass a variety of anesthetizing locations and utilize advanced equipment and procedures while adapting techniques to solve various complex anesthesia problems including the development of individualized programs of post-op anesthesia care.
• Skill in responsibility and accountability to perform to the extent of the CNA standards of practice as a licensed healthcare professional in any model of anesthesia practice.
• Ability to contribute to the educational mission as a mentor or preceptor providing didactic and clinical instruction in anesthesia to student nurse anesthetists, medical and dental residents and other health care trainees.
• Knowledge to participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of auditing processes that ensure and improve the quality and consistency of anesthesia and associated documentation.
• Ability to contribute to departmental administrative processes through quality assurance, shared governance or committee representation as applicable. vii Ability to serve as a representative on interdisciplinary teams to establish and maintain guidelines and communication.
• Skill demonstrated in the ability to embrace the safety culture emphasis by continuously assessing for safety risks, actively reporting safety concerns and maintaining a just culture by identifying faults in systems rather than individuals.

Reference:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6d Advanced Practice Nurse (Certified Nurse Anesthetist) Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements:

Heavy lifting (35 pounds); heavy carrying (35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13 to 16 to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability.

Education

Foreign Education Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration (see paragraph 3c) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree level Nursing education program.

In order to grant credit towards an appointment based on foreign nursing education higher than the associate degree level, formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency accepted by VA such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) must be obtained.

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:
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


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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 , 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.

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• Benefits

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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.

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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 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.