Federal Government Jobs
Helping job hunters find, apply for, and land government jobs
Home Based Primary Care, Emergency Critical Care, and ICU Nurses, VA (Part 4)
In part 4 of this series we continue with the registered nursing positions at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), which is part of the VA Capitol Health Care Network located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Nursing is primarily assisting the individual, sick or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a peaceful death) that would be performed unaided if the patient had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge. It is likewise the unique contribution of nursing to help the individual to be independent of such assistance as soon as possible.
The nurse deliberately assesses the client’s health problems, determines his or her role in coping with these problems, sets a plan of action which the nurse is responsible for implementing, and then determines whether the prescribed methods did indeed affect a satisfactory resolution.
The development of a scientific nursing practice necessitates the use of the scientific method. The nurse identifies actual and potential health problems; diagnoses and treats human response to physical and emotional health problems through such services as case finding, management of health problems, health counseling and teaching; provides care supportive to, or restorative of life and well-being; and assists the patient to comply with a medical regimen prescribed by a licensed physician or dentist.
For additional nursing career information, review Part 2 and Part 3 of this series and visit our GS-0600 Nursing Jobs page.
Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a general medical and surgical hospital in Martinsburg, WV, with 246 beds. It has service area of more than 126,000 veterans in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including internal medicine, ambulatory surgery, audiology, and speech pathology, dental, nursing home, nutrition, podiatry, prosthetics, women’s health, mental health, and rehabilitation medicine.
Registered Nurse Career Path (GS-0610)
The interviews that follow provide insight into specific healthcare specialties, why they entered the field, and the nurses talk about rewarding aspects of their jobs. They also address the demands of the position with recommendations for those who would like to follow in their footsteps.
Home Based Primary Care Nurse
Charlotte M. Scott, RN currently works with Home Based Primary Care in Stephens City and is a RN with the Caregiver Program at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her specialty is Primary Care and Public Health with a background in emergency nursing. She has been a nurse since 1998. Scott has a Bachelors of Nursing (BSN) from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA and will complete her Master’s of Nursing (MSN) from the University of Virginia in Public Health Leadership in July 2015.
Q&A With Charlotte M. Scott
What is the most rewarding part of your job as a Registered Nurse?
Most rewarding part of my job is knowing I make a difference in helping improve the lives of Veterans. Being able to give back to the Veterans who have served for our country and us.
What is the most challenging part of being a Registered Nurse?
The most challenging part of my job is finding the best avenue to help each Veteran because every person has a unique situation.
Would you recommend Registered Nurse as a good career path?
I would absolutely recommend pursuing a RN career. It has been the most rewarding job I have had. My next adventure in nursing will be perusing my Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Virginia. You will not find a better career path with so many exciting and rewarding opportunities.
Registered Nurse (Home Based Primary Care-HBPC) Requirements
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Full-unrestricted Licensure, Certification or Registration required.
- A minimum of three (3) years of successful clinical nursing practice in medical/surgical, and experience in home care is preferred.
- It is preferred that candidates possess demonstrated advanced competency and skills in physical assessment with the ability to organize, plan, set priorities and make decisions in the home setting.
- Excellent assessment skills and the ability to work collaboratively are highly desirable.
- Have and maintain a current certification in BLS/CPR.
Visit our Qualification Standards page for detailed information for each pay grade in this job series. Click on the appropriate occupational title under the GS-0600 family.
Emergency Critical Care Nurse
Daniel T. Schiro, RN currently works in the Emergency Department at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. He served 2 deployments in Iraq as Medic and retired from the Air Force/Air National Guard. Schiro worked as a Pre-Hospital/In-Hospital Emergency and Trauma Nurse since 2008.
Q&A With Daniel T. Schiro
Why did you become a Registered Nurse?
I started as a Medic/EMT in the military, then I became an orderly working nights in a hospital and I wanted more. A few nurses that I worked with convinced me to go back to school and I am happy I did.
What is the most rewarding part of your job as a Registered Nurse?
Helping people through some of the most difficult times of injury and illness.
What is the most demanding part of being a Registered Nurse?
The most rewarding part of nursing can also be the most demanding part. Being with a person on their worst day of their lives can be very uplifting when the outcome is a good one. Unfortunately, the same situation can be very emotionally draining when the outcome is poor. Standing next to a patient, holding their hand, with the family in the room as they pass from this world is the hardest part of nursing.
Would you recommend Registered Nurse as a good career path?
I would if someone wanted to choose nursing for the right reasons. Nursing is a field that demands a lot of emotion, time and energy that money will never compensate. Those who enter the field for monetary reasons are often disappointed. If you want a career that leaves you fulfilled at the end of the day with a sense that you made a difference in at least one person’s life then nursing is worth the consideration.
Registered Nurse (Emergency Department) Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Full-unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration is required.
- Serve as a staff nurse you will provide prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill and injured veterans.
- Duties include documenting observations, assessments, and changes inpatient’s condition; collaborating with health team members to facilitate positive patient care outcomes; providing a full range of nursing care to patients with a variety of physical and/or behavior problems.
- Ability to assume leadership in a patient centered program, and the ability to establish effective communication with patients, families, visitors and members of the interdisciplinary team.
- Work schedule will be such that must be able and willing to rotate tours of duty and or work permanent evening or night tour.
- Minimum of 2 years of recent, full time clinical experience as a RN in Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Certification in Emergency Nursing is strongly preferred.
Visit our Qualification Standards page for detailed information for each pay grade in this job series. Click on the appropriate occupational title under the GS-0600 family.
ICU Nurse
Julia B. Houser, RN,specialty is medical surgery and ICU at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center.
Q&A With Julie B. Houser
Why did you become a Registered Nurse?
I wanted to become a nurse after watching my grandmother battle lung cancer, which spread to the brain. I was so amazed and impressed with how the nursing staff took care of my grandmother and our family.
What is the most rewarding part of your job as a Registered Nurse?
The most rewarding part of the job is getting the patient back to their baseline and getting them home with their loved ones.
What is the most demanding part of being a Registered Nurse?
The most demanding part of the job is the lives we cannot save. The patients and their families become your second family and you really feel their loss and pain.
Would you recommend Registered Nurse as a good career path?
I would definitely recommend a career in nursing to someone who has compassion and wants to make a difference in so many Veterans’ lives. It is truly an amazing and rewarding career choice.
Registered Nurse (Intensive Care Unit) Requirements
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Full-unrestricted Licensure, Certification, or Registration is required.
- Experience in various areas of emergency care.
- The RN is accountable to function as a primary care nurse providing complete nursing care to 1-3 patients each shift while also maintaining a global perspective in order to prioritize work and assist other team members as needed.
- Patients may need advanced life support including mechanical ventilation and/or Continuous Renal Reperfusion Therapy (CRRT).
- Additional assignments include assisting with in-services and staff development.
- Additional duties include maintaining competencies to cross-train as a staff nurse in the Emergency Department, Surgical Post Anesthesia Care Unit, and on the Med/Surg/Psych ward.
- Additional assignments include assisting with staff development, patient education, and applying evidence based practice to unit specific processes.
- In part 5 on registered nurses, we will be interviewing nurses and their specialties from the Washington D.C VA Medical Center.
Visit our Qualification Standards page for detailed information for each pay grade in this job series. Click on the appropriate occupational title under the GS-0600 family
In part 5 we will be interviewing registered nurses in various specialties from the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center.
Credits
- Michele Hammonds, Communications Specialist, US Department of Veterans Affairs, VHA Office of Public Communications (10B2B)
- Photos provided by Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), which is part of the VA Capitol Health Care Network located in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Other career information
- VA Web Site: www.va.gov
- http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- GS-0600 Nursing Jobs
Helpful Career Planning Tools
- Applying For Federal Jobs
- Civil Service Exams
- Veteran’s Preference
- Interview Preparation
- Take Charge of Your Federal Career; An Action Oriented Career Management Workbook for Federal Employees
Visit our other informative site
- http://FederalJobs.net (Explore occupations and find jobs)
- http://federalretirement.net (Learn about retirement and other federal employee benefits)
- http://PostalWork.net (Explore all postal occupations and prepare for postal exams)
- http://www.SearchFedJobs.com (Search federal, state, and private sector jobs in your area)
- Federal Employee’s Career Development & IDP Center
The information provided may not cover all aspects of unique or special circumstances, federal and postal regulations, and programs are subject to change. Our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic human resource guidance and factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM, the postal service or any federal entity. You should consult with school counselors, hiring agency personnel offices, and human resource professionals where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.