ICU Registered Nurse

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Nurse (ICU)

• Setting: Intensive Care Unit

• Shift: Night shift (1730–0600), rotating weekends and holidays

Description

Provide direct and indirect ICU nursing care for a range of patient needs, including postoperative, acutely ill, hospice, and psychiatric patients. Lead nursing care for complex patients using the nursing process aligned with ANA Standards, including assessment/reassessment, medication and treatment interventions, ADL care, education, documentation, and quality participation. Serve as an advocate and resource for patients, families, and staff, addressing ethical issues and improving communication and care outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of nursing care using the nursing process

• Apply clinical judgment to plan, decide, and evaluate outcomes

• Coordinate and improve patient- and veteran/patient-driven care

• Integrate patient, family, and caregiver values into care delivery

• Advocate for patients and improve outcomes

• Resolve ethical issues; improve communication and teamwork

• Lead teams, contribute to conferences, and collaborate in patient care planning

• Mentor, precept, and teach to expand knowledge and improve outcomes

• Apply evidence-based practice/research

• Monitor, analyze, and evaluate care outcomes; improve cost-effective delivery

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required (non-citizens only when recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible)

• English proficiency for direct patient care (written and spoken)

• Accredited nursing education completion (ACEN/CCNE) or approved VA bridge/foreign education equivalency pathway

• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state/territory/DC

• Ability to meet pre-employment and employee health requirements (background/security investigation, onboarding, pre-employment physical, drug screening where applicable, annual TB screening/testing)

• Ability to meet physical requirements (including transfers, PPE use, and working around potentially combative/delirious patients)

• Preferred: 1+ year higher-acuity ICU/CVICU/ED/Telemetry experience; CCRN and/or CEN preferred

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular increases; potential performance awards

• Paid Time Off: 50 days/year (26 annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays)

• Retirement: federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions

• Insurance: health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (carryable into retirement for many programs)

• Telework: not eligible; not a virtual position

• EDRP: Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility for loan repayment reimbursement up to $200,000 based on application review