Duties
The Surgical Specialty Ambulatory Registered Nurse:
1. Establishes effective relationships with the Veteran, their family, and/or significant other(s) to facilitate the development of a care plan unique to their care needs.
2. Practice is led by the Nursing Process in developing and implementing the plan of care. She/she is responsible. and accountable for demonstrating the educational, experiential, and knowledge/practice-based competency requirements outlined in the five (5) dimensions of nursing practice:
- Veteran/Patient Driven Care
- Leadership
- Professional Development
- Evidence Based Practice
- Research
3. Assessment and management strategies are based on a consideration of physical, functional, cultural, social, economic, developmental, spiritual, vocational, and leisure dimensions of human responses to actual and potential health problems.
4. Performs ongoing assessment of the impact of actual or potential illness of Veteran's physical, functional, cultural, social, economic, developmental, spiritual, vocational, and leisure status.
5. He/she applies the existing body of evidence-based practice and scientific knowledge in health care to Surgical Specialty Nursing practice ensuring that nursing care is delivered based on respective scope of practice acts.
6. Participates with the Veteran, family, significant other(s), and other health care providers in collaborative decision making reflecting the understanding that care should be culturally sensitive, ethical, legal, holistic, informed, compassionate, humane, and within the boundaries of available economic resources.
7. Serves as an advocate for the Veteran, family, and significant other(s).
8. Educates the veteran, family, and significant other(s) about the measures that promote, maintain, and restore health or promote comfort.
9. Mobilizes resources to provide an environment that supports health promotion, health restoration, health maintenance, and comfort as defined by the client, family, and significant other(s).
10. Employs a unit-focus to provide high quality nursing care to Veterans in the out-patient Surgical Specialty Clinics through case management strategies of assessment, resource coordination, collaboration, and medication/treatment education/administration; assists medical/surgical specialists with treatments and/or procedures; and documents appropriately.
11. Uses standards of Surgical Nursing practice to increase the quality of care and quality of life for the client, family, and significant other(s).
12. Utilizes leadership skills to enhance client outcomes.
13. Fosters a healthy work environment within the practice setting and profession
14. Demonstrates leadership by serving as a mentor and role model for nursing colleagues, students, and others as he/she continues to enhance his/her own professional growth, continuing education and development.
15. Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice
16. Communicates effectively with the client, family, significant other(s), and other health care professionals.
17. Assesses and enrolls eligible patients into nontraditional modalities of care such as Home Telehealth and Telemedicine.
18. Utilizes Teach and Motivational Interviewing techniques to encourage positive health behavioral change and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
19. Reviews, tracks, and devises strategies to improve Healthcare Effective Data Information Sets (HEDIS) metrics, clinical reminders, timely encounter closures, and other performance metrics.
20. Facilitates continuity of care by partnering with multidisciplinary services, internal and external to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
21. Initiates and participates in various quality and process improvement activities that result in improved patient outcomes.
A 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 through Friday 0800-1630
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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 08/11/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12772830.
- 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 is 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.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.