Summary

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a Nurse Recruiter to provide proficient, evidence-based practices in relation to recruitment and retention for our facilities. This position is aligned under Acute Hospital Clinical Service.

Duties

The Nurse Recruiter uses nursing practice, clinical knowledge, and data to assess, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate recruitment and retention efforts of nursing staff. Identifies highly qualified talent for the facilities who aligns with the mission of caring for Veterans. Utilizes clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities to personalize the experience for the candidate, improves the recruitment and retention experience for all stakeholders and delivers compassionate nurses ready to provide care. Seeks to develop strategic partnership with internal (facility leadership, current nursing staff, HR) and external (colleges, universities, associations) stakeholders to garner an applicable pipeline of candidates.

Utilizes their clinical practice to assess the knowledge and experience of the candidate to ensure they are in alignment with the outlined job requirements.

Major Duties Include But Not Limited To:

• Leads the provision of complex recruitment and retention needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with recruitment and retention standards of practice for assigned units, teams, and workgroups.
• Applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead in planning, decision-making/evaluating data outcomes within the immediate practice setting.
• Effectively functions as a leader, with demonstrated outcomes, for the immediate facility recruitment and retention.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to implement nurse recruitment and retention plans by utilizing clinical expertise.
• Uses the nursing process to improve the onboarding process for nursing candidates.
• Utilizes nursing knowledge to screen candidates to determine the best qualified based on expectations of the specific position.
• Shares and promotes the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses and disseminates the information widely.
• Demonstrates consideration and respect of personal values and belief systems of others, serving as a resource in addressing ethical issues that impact candidates and staff as it relates to recruitment and retention activities.
• Utilize recruitment methodologies to assist in the establishment and maintenance of a diverse workforce.
• Leads the implementation of high reliability principles and ICARE values to increase consistency of care and improve patient outcomes.
• Demonstrates the ability to improve the effectiveness of communications and interactions with others, to inspire their cooperation and confidence to ensure safe and effective outcomes in the current practice setting.
• Leads teams, contributes to team conferences, and actively collaborates in all phases of recruitment and retention planning.
• Successfully integrates objectives, opportunities, and resources.
• Considers alternative courses of action.
• Respects opinions, abilities, and contributions of others.
• Encourages growth and development.
• Effectively sets group goals and keeps self and team informed of the latest trends and developments.
• Inspires the cooperation and confidence of others.
• Demonstrates a high level of expertise.
• Expands knowledge base and practice evaluation through mentoring, precepting, and/or teaching to improve outcomes in the immediate practice setting.
• Leads education initiatives to expand knowledge with improved outcomes in the immediate practice setting.
• Applies evidence-based practice/research resulting in improved outcomes in the immediate practice setting.

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 8:00AM to 4:30PM. 80 hours per pay period (2 weeks). Hours may be rotated or extended based on the needs of the Medical Center and our Veterans.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 than 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.

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.

Education IMPORTANT:

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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.

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 than 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).

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.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.