The Cardiology Nurse demonstrates knowledge and clinical skills related to supporting the Cardiology Department within the Syracuse 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 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. 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. 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The following functions are unique to Cardiology RNs. Cardiology RNs in this program are evaluated on the four dimensions listed further below in addition to supporting and collaborating with the functions listed here: - Performs patient vital signs, ECG. Monitor and record vital signs per Cardiology Department protocol. - Use MUSE EKG archiving system, Cardioday/ MARS Holter editing system - Assist with the Pacemaker Device Clinic as needed - Cover the Nurse Case Manager as needed - Maintains competency in Moderate Sedation - Responsible for setting up, performing, and assisting providers with Transesophageal Echocardiograms and Cardioversions, Dobutamine Stress testing, Nuclear stress testing, Stress echo testing, echo bubble studies, assisting with patients in critical situations, assisting EKG technicians with day to day functions in outpatient clinic, or filling in for EKG techs as needed. - Provides patient teaching / education to patients in clinic for pre cath evaluation, pre device implant evaluation, pre TEE/ cardioversion teaching, or any other necessary patient education. - Ensure procedure rooms are clean, stocked appropriately and ready for the next patient; ensure equipment is clean/sterile and in working order. - Pre-procedure patient assessment, pre-procedure checklist documentation. - Peri-procedure nursing documentation. - Serves as a resource to clinical and non-clinical staff. - Communicates with patients, Cardiology providers, referring providers, and Cardiology Department staff. - Hand-off report to respective nursing units when applicable - Communicates and coordinates patient care between physician providers and Cardiology NP/PA team. - Reviews patient records for allergies, prior cardiac procedures, procedure pertinent information and consults appropriate staff with issues and/or concerns. - Contacts Veterans scheduled for cardiac procedures to ensure they understand pre-procedural instructions. - Contacts Cardiology Fellows, Attending Physicians, and Cardiology Nurse Practitioner/ Physician Assistant with relevant patient information and findings to assure safe patient care. - Reviews all relevant patient data pre-procedure and reports relevant findings to Cardiologist/provider. - Documents all encounters, and event captures related to procedure visit. - Administers medications, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support medications and anticoagulants, utilizing all safety precautions. - Documents appropriate clinical data in CPRS as it pertains to procedure, outpatient clinic visit. - Prepare room, equipment and material needed for patient procedures or exams. - Conducts quality control procedures on equipment in procedural area i.e. code cart checks, glucometer controls etc. - Adherence to standard precautions as it pertains to patient care. - Assists in stocking supplies, reporting shortages, and maintaining procedural readiness in cardiology Department. - Facilitates care between Cardiology Department and inpatient testing requests. - 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 Department. - Active participant in Cardiology Department Quality Assurance/ Quality Improvement projects. - Adheres to all established Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols within the Medical Center and Cardiology Department. - Maintains all Medical Center annual education requirements. Other duties as assigned within clinical scope of practice to support advanced cardiac care and procedures to the inpatient and outpatient populations. 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 0700-1530 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
