The VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system, offering a variety of Inpatient and Outpatient services to Veterans at the medical center in La Jolla and at the six Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) located in Chula Vista, Escondido, Imperial Valley, Kearny Mesa, Oceanside, Sorrento Valley, and Rio Clinic.
The VASDHS provides high quality care with advanced technologies and a compassionate service to Veterans.
Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and leadership in improving patient care using the nursing process for patients requiring specialized or complex care independently. Provides patient care in the surgical specialty clinics as needed. Provides surgical care coordination from the point of decision for surgery until patient post-op tenure is completed or they are returned to PACT/Primary Care provider for continued follow-up.
Meets and collaborates with an interprofessional team to discuss and determine a plan of care for surgical patients prior to surgery and any necessary follow-ups post-surgery. Assists the surgical team in monitoring surgical patients requiring ongoing surgical care until the surgeon releases the patient back to primary care. Applies the nursing process(assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to all aspects of patient care.
Serves as a subject-matter resource for multiple surgical specialties as assigned. Helps veterans navigate through the pre-op process, including necessary consults, appointments, testing, education, etc. Coordinates surgical case scheduling with clinical support staff, physicians, social workers, case managers, etc., to ensure timely surgical patient care.
Collaborates with clinic nurses and other employees to help coordinate clinic visits, pre-surgical medical studies(radiology, nuclear medicine, labs, etc.), consults and clearances from other specialties, treatments, and/or procedures for surgical patients. Communicates the needs of the surgical team, including equipment, implants, and supplies to successfully perform scheduled procedures.
Ensures all surgical patients are medically cleared prior to the planned/scheduled surgery date. Functions as a liaison between all members of the Surgical Specialty team (attending surgeons, residents, and fellows), administrative support staff ( AS, MSAs, etc.), surgical clinic staff, Ambulatory Service Unit (ASU), Operating Room (OR), inpatient nursing units, etc.
Provides excellent customer service as a liaison between patients and families to support education, emotional support, and surgical care coordination within the medical facility or non-VA contract facilities. Triages and addresses phone messages, secure messages, and consults as needed. Serves as the primary contact for scheduling surgical patients for surgery. Maintains all mandatory and clinical competencies required for the position.
Coordinates patient referrals for surgical risk stratification, completion of evaluation, and surgery date selection. Addresses the psychological needs of pre and post operative patients as needed. Triages all surgical requests for urgency of scheduling. Optimizes the use of the surgical block schedule for available operating room time. Collaborates with surgical attendings, fellows, and chief residents to maximize OR surgical time. Completes surgical planning worksheets.
Coordinates surgical case entry into DSS (PeriOp Live) and ensures correct information is entered at least 72 hours prior to surgical procedure. Notifies the Operating Room NM/ANM and Operating Room Schedulers of any changes to surgical requests and any future block time/surgical time that will not be utilized by the service (minimum of two weeks in advance for unused surgical time).
Coordinates requested implants, equipment, instrumentation, and supplies required for surgery with the attending surgeons, residents, vendors, implant coordinator, operating room unit coordinator, and sterile processing leads. Collaborates with Surgeons, Anesthesia team, and Operating Room to coordinate urgent/emergency surgical scheduling. Maintains a surgical referral database.
Reviews the qualifications and competence of privileged providers/staff who provide patient care services. Addresses customer complaints with optimal Service Recovery techniques. Collaborates with multiple disciplines and departments to improve surgical efficiency and delivery of patient care. Arranges transportation, home-care needs, and lodging as needed.
Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized, and function under stressful situations, adjusting to the uneven workflow and changing priorities of the surgical suite. Recognizes and responds to patients in emergency and physically stressful situations as appropriate. Performs other duties as assigned.
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Full time Compressed/Flexible: N/A Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
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 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); 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
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)
Full federal benefits details →
Ruben.Cabral@va.gov · (858) 642-3553
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $103980 – $188494/yr.
This position requires a Other security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-16.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-14 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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