Clinical Nurse Specialist - Critical Care

Summary The Advanced Practice Nurse Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) practices in Critical Care, within the Nursing Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The CNS provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management. The CNS practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. Core functions are outlined in the clinical privileges that correspond with this position. Responsibilities The CNS APRN Critical Care assumes the following major functions/duties expected of the role: 1. Collaborates with Associate Nurse Executive (ANE) Nursing Education & Research (NEaR), Nurse Manager NEaR, ANE Inpatient Units, Nurse Manager (NM) and Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) of Critical Care Units (ICU & PCU) to provide: a. clinical leadership for Critical Care nursing staff b. development of a strategic educational plan c. develop, coordinate, facilitate and evaluate unit-based nursing service orientation, clinical competencies and required educational directives for the Critical Care units d. maintains competency folders with quarterly reviews 2. Facilitates, coordinates, and leads development and completion of initial competencies for Critical Care Unit nursing service staff. 3. Facilitates, coordinates, and leads development and completion of ongoing competencies for the Critical Care Unit nursing staff and nursing service as needed. 4. Develops, coordinates, and provides Critical Care Unit education programs and activities and hospital wide critical care educational programs and activities as appropriate. 5. Develops nursing critical care standards of practice and serves as the critical care nursing consultant on critical care clinical practice. 6. Serves as the nursing consultant regarding critical care nursing policy and procedure development. 7. Serves as the facility coordinator for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) critical care online courses/education program Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO). 8. Serves as the coordinator for all research in the Critical Care units; mentors Critical Care staff in evidence-based practice projects. 9. Provide leadership and facilitate evidence-based practice to VASDHS employees. 10.Mentors Critical Care Unit nursing staff and VASDHS staff to develop leadership and preceptor skills. 11.Disseminates accreditation standards and ensures staff compliance with The Joint Commission and other regulatory agency requirements. 12.Use advance clinical knowledge/judgement to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making and evaluation outcomes. 13.Functions as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. 14.Systematically evaluates current practice and formulates outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational process within area of expertise. 15.Collaborates and participates with Critical Care nursing staff and VASDHS staff in the selection and process of performance measure improvement. 16.Provides direct and indirect care for patients in the Critical Care Units. 17.Documents all direct patient care provided using the electronic health record (EHR), according to unit and facility policies and procedures. 18.Serves as a member of the VASDHS Critical Care Multidisciplinary Committee, Code Blue Committee, Rapid Response Committee, Clinical Nurse Specialist group, and Nursing Clinical Practice Committee. May serve as chair or co-chair as appropriate. 19.Serves on Nursing Service and organization-wide committees as appropriate to facilitate continuity of care. May serve as chair or co-chair as appropriate. 20.Responsible for the oversight and management of all emergency equipment, including defibrillators, automated external defibrillators, code carts and contents for the Critical Care units and training of the Code Blue response teams and Critical Care unit nursing staff. 21.Collaborates with the other CNS's and Code Blue Committee for oversight and management of facility wide code blue equipment and supplies. 22.Maintains mandatory and clinical competencies for the position including certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CCNS) from American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Clinical Nurse Specialist or from a VA-approved certifying body. 23.Coordinates with CNS group to provide orientation and cross-coverage for all inpatient and outpatient care units. 24. Performs other duties as assigned 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 to Friday 0630-1500 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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 (Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification 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

Created: 2026-02-13