Job Purpose:

The renowned 350 bed Michael DeBakey VA Medical Clinic is seeking highly experienced specialty Critical Care Registered Nurses with at least 5 years in their Specialty including at least 1 year of Critical Care, to support their 131,000 Veteran patient pool for a 6-month period

Units to be supported - Surgical ICU | Medical ICU | Cardiac Care Unit | ER | Med/Surg Units | Stepdown Unit | Spinal Cord Injury Unit | Extended Care Unit

RN/NP will perform clinical duties under the oversight of the appropriate VA Nurse Manager, or appropriate nursing leadership delegate viz. The Assistant Nurse Manager.

Available Shifts:

8 Hour Tour: Day 7.30am-4.00pm; Evening 3pm-Midnight; Night 11.30pm -8.00am

12 Hour Tour: Day 7.30am-8.00pm; Night 7.30pm – 8.00am

Other Tours may be available depending on other Select Units needs

Location:
Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center (VAMC)

2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030

Salary: Range up to $162,000 (Competitive Salary Range based on Experience)

Skills and Qualifications:

• Experience-

All required experiences should be within the past five (5) years and include at least one (1) year experience in Critical Care Nursing
RN (Specialty Care-SICU |CCU |MICU| ICU |PACU |Cath Lab/Bronch |ER | Stepdown

• Current ACLS Certification is required for SICU, IMCU, CCU, ICU, STEPDOWN, ER
• Current BLS Certification

• Licensure- Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (Puerto Rico) of the United States or the District of Columbia.
• US Citizenship
• English Language Proficiency in written and spoken English language in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following bodies at the time that the program was completed by the applicant-The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) | The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) | Individuals attending a Master’s bridge program in nursing who achieve the level of their education in which they have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and be registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program | Graduate of Foreign School of Professional Nursing in possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration who meets the graduation requirement from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree level in a Nursing education program; formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency accepted by the VA must be provided.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Care Personnel
• Applicants selected will be subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment
• Selected applicants will be required to complete onboarding process
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Restrictions:
N.B. RNs on this Contract should not be working at other Houston, TX area hospitals while concurrently providing services at the VAMC unless special approval has been designated by VA personnel to do so ahead of acceptance of the VA employment.

• All nursing care is to be performed within the scope of practice designated by the Texas registered Nurses Practice Act & within the scope of each practicing RNs license.
  
• Practice is within the framework of the VA core values Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence (ICARE)
  
• All Nursing personnel will be expected to have the abilities to assess, develop, and implement health promotion & prevention interventions (i) with the goal of managing acute/chronic illness states (ii)in assisting inpatient residents to attain optimal levels of functional rehab evaluation of patient responses to treatments of actual health problems(iii)in providing proactive assessment if there are potential health risks(iv)providing support for patients in hospice transition and their significant others/relatives

(a)Maintenance of patient confidentiality

(b) Maintenance of a safe patient care environment

(c)Familiarity with required medication administration

(d) Familiarity with patient/resident/family education

(e) Familiarity with discharge processes

(f) Familiarity with restraint usage

(g)Familiarity with hazardous waste disposal as outlined/defined by The Joint Commission and all other VA regulatory bodies (i.e. Long-Term Care Institute and Office of Inspector General).

 II.
Provision of quality patient/resident-centered care by performing the following tasks:
(a) Assessment of the health care needs of the patient/resident

(b)Development & Maintenance of a plan of care to meet interdisciplinary goals

(c) Assessment of and acting on significant changes in the patient’s/resident’s health condition

(d) Carrying out the plan of care by performing/assigning delegated tasks

(e) Collection of document pertinent data into the electronic patient/resident medical record using designated temp plates with no personalized or customized documentation

(f) Completion of nursing assessments within required time frames, and in accordance with policy and procedure

(g) Identification of & acting on predictable needs of the patient/resident

(h)Meeting the health care needs of patient/resident by assessing and assisting the patient/resident to meet expressed needs

(i) Meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of patients/residents and/or families

(j) Ability to prioritize and complete tasks within the RN’s assigned shift

(k)Maintaining updated patient/resident care plans

(l) Notifying assigned physician of any changes in patient condition

(m)Reporting incidents of verbal or physical abuse immediately to the Nurse Manager of the unit they are assigned, or to designated off-shift nursing leadership.

III.
Performing the following clinical tasks:
(a) Head-to-toe assessment

(b) Insertion of IV lines

(c) Care and management of peripheral and central lines, including PICC lines

(d) Administering medication including IV, and PRN medication effectiveness

(e) Administration of Blood Products

(f) Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) with a 100% accuracy rate shall be used in the applicable areas for medication administration. BCMA is designed to provide electronic validation and documentation of medication administration, reduce medication misadventures, provide an online patient/resident medication record, and promote             a safer inpatient/resident care environment. Spot check (use random review) of patient/resident charts or review of incident reports will be conducted. If issues are found, remedial training of contractor employee will be given. If remedial training is unsuccessful, the contractor employee may be removed from providing services under the Contract

(g) Performing wound care including dressing changes (sterile and non-sterile), and obtaining wound cultures as necessary

(h)Obtaining specimens and delivering specimens to lab

(i) Performing tracheostomy care

(j) Performing non-acute and/or acute ventilator care, if needed

(k)Performing suctioning including oral, nasogastric, and tracheostomy

(l) Performing deep suctioning, which may include obtaining specimens

(m) Assessment for and administering tube feedings

(n) Assisting with routine urinary and bowel elimination including catheters, colostomies, and digital stimulation.

(o) Responding to and assisting in emergencies

(p) Measuring vital signs/hemodynamic monitoring including Pain (the 5th Vital Sign), pulse oximetry, etc.

(q) Coordination and participation in admission and discharge of patient

(r) Educating patients/residents and/or families regarding health and diagnoses and medication administration including indications for the medication

(s)Adhering to PPE and Hand Hygiene Compliance

(t) Performing skin assessments to identify potential skin injuries and providing recommendations and interventions.

(u)Performing Braden Scale to measure the risk for skin injuries and providing recommendations and interventions to prevent skin injuries

(v)Performing Fall Risk Assessment to decrease the risk of falls and falls with injuries and providing recommendations and interventions to decrease the risk of falls and falls with injuries

(w)Providing Joint Patient Reporting System (JPRS) for patient incidents

(x)Clearing all CPRS clinical alerts daily

(y) Providing clinical oversight to Licensed Practical Nurses, Nursing Assistants, Health Technicians, and Intermediate Care Technicians

Credentialing:

Candidates are required to submit the following documents:

• Resume with well defined time line data
• Transcript
• Up to date unencumbered License
• Professional Certification
• If a US Veteran, please submit your DD-214 Form
• If a US DV, please submit your Disability Letter
• If you have had previous work experience at the VA or DOD, please submit SF-50
• Proof of up-to-date immunization for Standard Control Measures (TB, MMR, Varicella, Flu, Covid)