Registered Nurse (Critical Care)

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Responsibilities The Registered Nurse (Critical Care) position is located in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The Registered Nurse (Critical Care) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. The Registered Nurse (RN) provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, as appropriate in the Nursing Critical Care setting. Leads the provision of nursing care to patients with complex care needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with the American Nursing Association (ANA Standards of Nursing Practice. Other responsibilities and duties include but are not limited to the following: Provides direct care for acutely/critically ill patients who are at high risk for actual or potential life-threatening health problems, regardless of the setting for nursing care. Provides high intensity care and vigilance, while refining assessment skills and blending in data obtained from a variety of invasive/non-invasive monitoring technology. Demonstrates and applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision making, and evaluating outcomes within the immediate Critical Care practice setting. NOTE: The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is an eleven bed Critical Care Unit that provides care to adult male/female patients following surgical interventions. Occasionally, medical and/or coronary patients are admitted when no beds are available in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and/or Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). Patients who have had open-heart surgery, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Valve replacement), Aortic/femoral bypass grafting, craniotomy, radical prostatectomy, thoracotomy, abdominal, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) or orthopedic surgery are cared for most frequently. The primary disease processes seen postoperatively in this patient population is cardiothoracic and peripheral vascular disease, chronic renal failure, brain lesions, cancer and aortic aneurysms, and pulmonary disease. Registered Nurses provide patient and family centered care in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians. Specialty Care and services are available through consultation and are utilized as needed to ensure continuity and progression of care. Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated on admission and continues throughout hospitalization. Therapies include hemodynamic monitoring, cardiac pacing, cardioversion, peritoneal, or hemodialysis, mechanical ventilation, intra-aortic balloon pumping, vasoactive, antiarrhythmic, epidural and analgesic sedation and paralytic drug administration. 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: Full time,12-hour tour nights/days with rotating weekends Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Durham EDRP Coordinators at , the EDRP Coordinators for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. 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 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

Created: 2026-04-01