Summary**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 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.
Learn more about this agencyDutiesHelp
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
RequirementsHelp
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.
QualificationsBasic 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/12945445.
Grade/LevelScopeEducationNurse 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: Experience providing nursing care to individuals with neurocognitive disorders, such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other cognitive impairments. Demonstrated skill in recognizing, assessing, and responding to behavioral expressions such as agitation, wandering, resistance to care, verbal aggression, or other responsive behaviors.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.
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