Registered Nurse - Pre/Post Anesthesia Care Unit

01Basic Requirements

English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program.

Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program.

Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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.

Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

02Grade Determinations

The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13099077.

Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.

An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.

An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.

Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.

A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.

Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting.

MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

03Preferred Experience

BSN and/or MSN preferred A minimum of 3 years of successful nursing practice encompassing education, administration, leadership, and Quality Management/Performance Improvement (QM/PI) experience. Basic computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office programs or comparable word processing, spreadsheet, and graphic software, with the ability to learn new VA-specific programs.

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with multiple service lines and disciplines preferred Excellent organizational, communication, writing, and time management skills. Ability to lead and effectively direct staff within a program, unit, team, or group. Proven ability to use sound judgment when making patient transfer decisions. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

04Physical Requirements

Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides specialized nursing care to patients throughout the perianesthesia continuum, including pre-anesthesia, post-anesthesia Phase I, Phase II, and extended recovery following sedation or anesthesia. Performs comprehensive preoperative nursing assessments, including reviewing medical histories, validating informed consent, and verifying History and Physical (H&P) documentation.

Prepares patients for surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures, including initiating intravenous access, administering ordered medications, and assisting with peripheral nerve blocks. Verifies completion of required laboratory testing, diagnostic studies, surgical site preparation, and site marking before procedures. Assesses patients for potential anesthesia-related risks, contraindications, and complications, communicating concerns to the anesthesia and surgical teams.

• Monitors patients recovering from anesthesia or sedation, assessing levels of consciousness, vital signs, respiratory status, and potential adverse reactions.
• Performs ongoing cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and hemodynamic assessments to identify changes in patient conditions and initiate appropriate interventions.
• Provides airway management, pain management, and other nursing interventions to maintain patient safety and promote recovery following anesthesia.
• Utilizes appropriate post-anesthesia recovery scoring systems to evaluate patient readiness for transfer, discharge, or continued monitoring.
• Provides preoperative education and postoperative discharge instructions to patients and families, ensuring understanding of recovery expectations, medications, and follow-up care.
• Collaborates with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams to coordinate safe and effective patient care throughout the perioperative process.

Maintains accurate, complete, and timely documentation of assessments, interventions, medications, and patient outcomes in the electronic health record (EHR). Ensures nursing practices comply with American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) standards, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives, and established standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Demonstrates nursing leadership by mentoring staff, providing constructive feedback, sharing clinical knowledge, and supporting professional development within the PRE/PACU. Participates in the development and evaluation of nursing policies, evidence-based practices, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and organizational outcomes. May be required to perform on-call duties.

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, 5:00am - 3:330pm, Compressed Tour Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized