This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) English Language Proficiency. RNs appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Graduation from School of Nursing. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant : The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), an accrediting arm of the National League for Nursing located at 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10006 or call (800) 669-1656 extension 153. The NLNAC accredits all levels of nursing programs. Additional information may be obtained from the NLNAC web site; or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The CCNE accredits bachelors and masters degree programs, and is located at One Dupont Circle N.W., Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036 or call (202) 463-6930. Additional information may be obtained from the CCNE web site. 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. In these programs, students are given a certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX and should submit this certification to VA prior to appointment. Students do not earn a BSN, but receive a MSN degree upon completion of course work. A copy of the MSN transcript must be provided to VA. Bridge programs that confer a masters degree also fully meet the education requirement, even though a Bachelors Degree is not awarded. OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active, and unrestricted registration (see paragraph 2a(3)) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Condition of Employment. A registered nurse (RN) will have a current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. Physical Requirements. Heavy lifting (35 pounds and over); heavy carrying (35 pounds and over); 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; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. The Four Dimensions of Nursing are: 1. Practice 2. Professional Development 3. Collaboration 4. Scientific Inquiry Within the Four Dimensions of Nursing, nine criteria define the performance requirements for RNs at each grade and/or level in the Nurse Qualification Standard. These requirements listed below, are based on the American Nurses Association (ANA) Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance. 1. Practice. Extent to which the RN effectively uses the nursing process components of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation in varied practice settings. 2. Quality of Care. Extent to which the RN systematically evaluates and improves the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and health care delivery. 3. Performance. Extent to which the RN evaluates his/her own nursing practice as well as the performance of others. 4. Education/Career Development. Extent to which the RN acquires and uses current knowledge for self and others. 5. Collegiality. Extent to which the RN contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others. 6. Ethics. Extent to which the RN makes decisions and takes action in an ethical manner. 7. Collaboration. Extent to which the RN collaborates with clients, significant others, and other health care and service providers. 8. Research. Extent to which the RN uses research in practice. 9. Resource Utilization. Extent to which the RN considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and cost in planning and delivering care. The above criteria are conceptualized within the Four Dimensions of Nursing as follows: 1. Practice (Practice, Ethics, Resource Utilization) 2. Professional Development (Education/Career Development, Performance) 3. Collaboration (Collaboration, Collegiality) 4. Scientific Inquiry (Quality of Care, Research) Grade Determinations. In addition to the Basic Requirements specified in paragraph a above, the following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. With regard to the "dimension" requirements, the requirements for all "dimensions" at a particular grade/level must be met in order for a RN to be qualified at that particular grade/level. 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 bachelors degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelors 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 Bachelors 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 Masters 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 Bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Masters 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 - Masters degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree. References: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6, Nurse Qualification Standard which is available in your local Human Resources office. Physical Requirements. Heavy lifting (35 pounds and over); heavy carrying (35 pounds and over); 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; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. ["Please read this public notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application. ***THIS IS AN OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT*** Vacancies may not presently exist but may become available at any point during the opening period of this vacancy announcement. We will not review applicant resumes until there is a request to fill a vacancy. You are applying to a public notice to fill current and future vacancies. Please note, there may or may not be actual/projected vacancies when you submit your application. Your resume and any supporting documentation will be retained with other applicants and reviewed as vacancies occur. You will not receive a notice regarding your application's status other than the initial acknowledgment until a request is received to fill a position. Once a request to fill a vacancy is received, we will review applicants in application date order. We will refer qualified applicants to the selecting official for consideration. The organization's hiring need will determine the referral of additional applicants. Applicants will be notified about their application's status if referred or if we fill all vacancies. The incumbent will provide prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill and injured veterans. Duties include documenting observations, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes; providing a full range of nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavior problems; and accountable for meeting and maintaining the qualification standards and functional statements of assigned grade. VA Northern Indiana Health Care System is seeking innovative Registered Nurses to become part of our Healthcare Team. This is an open and continuous posting in which you will identify the areas in which you are interested in working. Areas include inpatient and outpatient areas to provide care to our Nation's Veterans. The incumbent will provide prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill and injured veterans. Duties include documenting observations, assessments, and changes in patient's condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes; providing a full range of nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavior problems; and accountable for meeting and maintaining the qualification standards and functional statements of assigned grade. This announcement covers multiple areas within VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. Eligible applicants will be referred based on answers assessment in regard to preferred location/specialty combination. Specialties include:\nEmergency Room\nICU\nMed/Surg (Inpatient)\nSurgery/OR\nPatient Aligned Care Team (PACT)\nSpecialty Clinics\nCommunity Based Outpatient Clinics\nBehavioral Health\nCommunity Living Center\nHome Based Primary Care\nCare in the Community"]