Summary Perioperative Operating Room (OR) and Implant Coordinator Registered Nurse (RN) role is a combined position with 50/50 responsibilities involving both perioperative care and implant coordination. The individual in this role is accountable for patient outcomes resulting from the nursing care for patients undergoing surgical/invasive procedures and the management of implants and tissue inventory. The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction. Responsibilities Perioperative OR RN Duties (50%): Planning, directing, and coordinating the care of every patient undergoing operative and other invasive procedures, respecting the individual and recognizing important contributions of each team member to the patient's well-being. Functions proficiently in both the circulator and scrub roles within OR and is competent in all surgical specialties served. Maintain knowledge of current Association of Peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) standards, Veterans Health Administration Directives, and service level standard operating room procedures. Ensures sterility of the surgical field, safe and efficient use of instrumentation and equipment. Protects the patient from various sources of injury. Performs counting procedures to prevent unintended retained surgical items. Participates in the Time Out process to ensure correct site, side, level, and follows implant and tissue/tissue-based product documentation, policy and procedures. Manage patient's specimens appropriately, administer medications safely, perform interventions to maintain wound, and tissue perfusion and prevent surgical site infections. Comprehensive documentation of care provided during the perioperative experience is ensured to be timely, complete , and accurate in the electronic health record. Responsible for knowing and following SOP's for reusable medical equipment (RME) and consulting with Sterile Processing and/or Infection Control as needed. This role does not require to be on-call but is eligible to take call if desired to provide patient care for emergency procedures. Implant Coordinator Duties (50%): Responsible for the overall management and oversight of implant and tissue inventory, ensuring that VA and VHA policies governing the management of implants are followed. Implement and maintain a system for tracking and storing all biological implants and ensuring staff have access to and training on the system. Coordinates all aspects of implant management by working with Supply Chain Management (SCM), Prosthetic and Sensory Aid Service (PSAS), Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Contracting Office (CO), and other clinical areas using implants. Ensure that biological and non-biological implants are entered into electronic health record (EHR) upon implementation. Reconcile implants used with VA-owned inventory and vendor consignment stock or list, and coordinate with applicable services to ensure implant availability, input of consults, and replacement of stock. Assist in developing consignment agreements, report known issues with consigned inventory, and monitors the processing of PSAS consults to ensure timely procurement and payment for or replacement of used implants. May assist in providing highly specialized direct and indirect patient care in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post operative phases of intervention. The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System provides you with outstanding health care, trains America's future health care providers, and conducts important medical research. Facilities include our Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center, VA operated clinics in Port St. Lucie and Delray and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in Boca Raton, Fort Pierce, Okeechobee, Stuart, and Vero Beach. To learn more about the services each location offers, visit the VA West Palm Beach health services page. The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System includes a 108-bed community living center (nursing home) and a 13-bed blind rehabilitation service, which is the referral center for blind and visually impaired Veterans throughout Florida. The VA West Palm Beach Healthcare System is one of the leading health care systems serving Veterans in the VA Sunshine Health Care Network. We're an innovative care center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 (VISN 8), which includes medical centers and clinics in Florida, Georgia, and the Caribbean. 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 - Friday, 7:30am - 4pm EST. 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. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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 "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12870804. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Preferred Experience: BSN 2-3 years Perioperative (OR) experience . Familiarity with surgical procedures, sterile techniques, and OR protocols. Experience with implantable medical devices, including their procurement, handling, and documentation. Understanding of inventory management, including tracking implants and ensuring availability for surgeries. Knowledge of relevant regulations and standards (e.g., FDA regulations regarding medical implants, hospital accreditation standards). Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with surgeons, surgical techs, and other OR staff. Excellent communication skills for coordinating with vendors, managing documentation, and patient interactions. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nursing personnel such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting Veterans. Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
