Registered Nurse - Surgical Care - Float Pool

Summary

This is a Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN position located at University Drive Campus in Pittsburgh, PA. RNs rotate through the Same Day Procedure/Ambulatory Surgery Unit, Surgical Clinics, Interdisciplinary Medical Preoperative Assessment, Consultation Treatment (IMPACT) Clinic, and Interventional Radiology (IR). RN must possess a broad knowledge base to include but not limited to Vascular, Wound, Podiatry, Ortho, Plastics, Urology, General Surgery, ENT, Neurosurgery, and IR patients.

Duties

• The Surgical Service Line Float Pool RN is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. Surgical Clinics: Performs surgical clinic documentation in CPRS. Reviews patient charts to verify appropriate testing has been completed prior to clinic visit. Provides pre and post clinic visit teaching, including peri-operative education as appropriate. Obtains various specimen collections, ensuring proper specimen labeling. Maintains understanding of correct site protocol and participates in the time-out process. Performs correct handling of non-critical, semi-critical and critical RMD in various clinics. Maintains current Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) competencies for all pieces of RMD handled. Sets up clinic rooms as needed for clinic procedures, aware of steps taken to ensure a sterile field. Assists in staple/sutures/cast removal, dressing changes, and other various clinic procedures. Performs post spine clinic visit call to ensure patients are following the plan of care. Performs removal of acupuncture needles. Performs Battlefield acupuncture. Facilitates Virtual Pre-op Ortho Joint Education class. Performs cerumen irrigation in the RN Cerumen Irrigation Clinic. Maintains knowledge of the medical supplies required to efficiently and effectively run clinics. Maintains cleanly and appropriate par level of medical supplies in each clinic area, ensuring no outdated supplies are present. Same Day Procedure Unit and Ambulatory Surgery Unit: Provides preoperative/procedural care, including the starting of intravenous fluids, venipuncture, assisting with pre-anesthesia treatment options (i.e. peripheral nerve blocks, spinal anesthesia), assuring all lab work and other pre-operative/procedural testing is completed and communicated to team members, confirms surgical sites are prepared and marked, and administers medications as ordered. Monitors postoperative patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation. Closely observes for side effects of anesthesia medications. Effectively communicates with all members of the anesthesia and procedural/surgical team. Provides clear and concise preoperative teaching and prepares and reviews discharge instructions with Veterans and families. Performs timely, complete, and accurate documentation in CPRS. Interdisciplinary Medical Preoperative Assessment Consultation and Treatment (IMPACT) Clinic: Completes patient evaluations and assessments as face-to-face or telephone evaluations. Obtains specimens, ensuring proper labeling of specimens. Performs comprehensive Veteran education related to pre-op instructions, including, but not limited to medication instructions, chlorhexidine skin treatment, and prevention of surgical site infection. Performs timely, complete, and accurate documentation in CPRS. Utilizes all aspects of the electronic health record, including CPRS and the Joint Legacy Viewer (JLV) to perform accurate medication reconciliations. Interventional Radiology: Performs and documents pre-procedure check-in, vital signs, IV insertion, pre-procedure medication administration, patient education, and verification of orders. Monitors postprocedural patient's level of consciousness after the recovery of anesthesia/sedation. Closely observes for signs of side effects of procedure medications. Effectively communicates with all members of the procedural team. Monitors patients and VS/cardiac rhythm for MRI pacer/defibrillator procedures. Completes discharge instructions and performs clear and concise discharge education with Veterans and families. Performs timely, complete, and accurate documentation in CPRS. Preferred Experience: BSN. 5 years of medical-surgical nursing practice. Telemetry. ACLS Certification. 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. 0600-1830, 0600-1430, 0700-1930, 0700-1530, 0730-1600, 0800-1630, 1500-2330, 1900-0730, 2300-0730 Compressed/Flexible: Authorized Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

Basic 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. Grade 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/13057007. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Requirements

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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/21/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13057007. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.