Registered Nurse - Community Living Center

<p>This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) At the St. Cloud VA Health Care System, Registered Nurses in the Community Living Center Dementia Care Unit provide compassionate, hands-on care for Veterans, including those living with dementia. Nurses use individualized, evidence-based approaches to support cognitive, behavioral, and functional needs while promoting safety, dignity, and meaningful engagement.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>As a Community Living Center Registered Nurse in the Dementia Care Unit you will provide specialized, patient-centered dementia care for Veterans with neurocognitive disorders, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and related conditions. This role requires clinical expertise in supporting Veterans experiencing cognitive decline, behavioral expressions, and complex care needs. You will work within an interdisciplinary team to promote safety, maintain dignity, support behavioral and cognitive changes, and enhance the overall quality of life for Veterans living with dementia. Major Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides comprehensive nursing care to Veterans with neurocognitive disorders through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation using evidence-based dementia care principles. Recognizes, assesses, and responds to behavioral expressions such as agitation, wandering, resistance to care, verbal aggression, and other responsive behaviors, using de-escalation and supportive interventions. Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to develop and revise individualized dementia-focused plans of care that address cognitive, physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs. Implements non-pharmacological interventions and therapeutic approaches that promote comfort, reduce distress, and support meaningful engagement for Veterans with dementia. Educates Veterans and caregivers on disease progression, behavioral strategies, medications, treatments, and care planning, promoting understanding and shared decision-making. Monitors clinical status and safety risks related to cognitive impairment, including fall risk, wandering behavior, delirium, environmental hazards, and communication challenges. Coordinates transitions of care, referrals, and follow-up services to ensure continuity and support for Veterans living with dementia and their caregivers. Administers medications and treatments while maintaining heightened awareness of altered sensory, cognitive, and behavioral needs in the dementia population. Performs clinical procedures (e.g., dressing changes, catheter care, injections) with adaptations to support Veterans' comfort, orientation, and sense of security. Participates in performance improvement and dementia-specific education initiatives to strengthen team competency in managing neurocognitive disorders. Utilizes the electronic health record accurately and in compliance with documentation, privacy, and safety standards, including behavioral documentation relevant to dementia care. Ensures safe use of oxygen therapy and demonstrates competency in Reusable Medical Equipment processes, adapting approaches to accommodate cognitive limitations. 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: Positions may require various 8-hour and 12-hour shifts, including days, evenings, nights, every other weekend, and holidays as assigned. Shifts may rotate based on organizational needs. 12-Hour Shifts: Days: 6:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Nights: 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. 8-Hour and 12-Hour Day/PM Options: 8-hour: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. 12-hour: 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. or 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Day/Night Mixed Options: 6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. / 10:30 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. / 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 a.m. Employees may be assigned to any listed tour. Additional variations may occur to meet staffing needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. The EDRP Coordinator(s) can be reached at VHAVISN23EDRP@va.govVHAVISN23EDRP@va.gov Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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.