Serving Those Who Served: Becoming a Registered Nurse at the Papillion Community Living Center

There is no higher calling in the clinical community than providing direct, compassionate care to the men and women who have defended our nation. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is actively recruiting dedicated, professional Registered Nurses (RNs) to join the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System at the Community Living Center (CLC) in Papillion, Nebraska. This unique opportunity is designed for clinical professionals who seek a highly rewarding, mission-driven role while maintaining a flexible, intermittent schedule.

In this role, you will step beyond traditional clinical workflows to provide holistic, patient-centered care. This comprehensive guide outlines everything you need to know about this career pathway, including agency missions, core responsibilities, detailed qualifications, and salary insights.

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About the Agency: The VA Midwest Health Care Network

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the nation's largest integrated healthcare system, dedicated to fulfilling President Lincoln’s promise: "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors."

As part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23), which supports more than 400,000 enrolled Veterans across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and surrounding states, you will be part of a vast network of clinical excellence. VISN 23 operates nine major medical centers, 62 community-based outpatient clinics, nine community living centers, and five domiciliary rehabilitation programs.

Central to this network’s philosophy is the Whole Health System of care. This paradigm empowers Veterans to take active ownership of their well-being. Healthcare providers do not merely treat symptoms; they partner with Veterans in the context of healing relationships and environments, building personalized health plans that reconnect individuals to their communities and help them live life to its fullest potential.

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Comprehensive Job Responsibilities of a CLC Nurse

The Community Living Center in Papillion, Nebraska, is not a typical long-term nursing facility. It is a dynamic hub providing short-term rehabilitative support, daily living assistance, memory and dementia care, and palliative/end-of-life care. The overriding mission of the CLC is to maximize each Veteran's physical and emotional well-being, prevent clinical decline, and offer comfort and dignity.

As a CLC Registered Nurse, your core clinical duties will include:

• Holistic Biopsychosocial Assessments: Evaluating physical, cognitive, psychological, and social dimensions to formulate tailored, age-appropriate care plans.
• Interdisciplinary Care Planning: Collaborating closely with physicians, physical therapists, social workers, and families to construct and modify dynamic, individual healthcare plans.
• Clinical Interventions & Medication Safety: Safely administering therapeutic medications, managing intravenous therapies, performing complex wound care, and rigorously monitoring patient response.
• Patient and Family Empowerment: Educating Veterans and their designated caregivers on chronic disease management, active self-care strategies, and post-discharge recovery plans.
• Transition and Discharge Management: Coordinating safe, seamless transitions of care between acute hospital settings, the CLC, and home environments to maintain therapeutic continuity.
• Clinical Leadership and Mentorship: Directing and supporting licensed vocational/practical nurses (LVNs/LPNs) and nursing assistants, encouraging an atmosphere of team-focused growth.
• MDS and RUG Coordination: Partnering with the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator to guarantee that medical documentation reflects patient needs, accurately translating to appropriate Resource Utilization Group (RUG) categories.
• Continuous Quality Improvement: Contributing to clinical audits, training initiatives, and safety protocol updates to maintain high standards of patient safety and satisfaction.

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Detailed Academic & Clinical Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet essential educational, professional, and legal benchmarks. Because the VA uses a structured boarding system to evaluate candidates, understanding these requirements is critical.

Basic Educational Requirements

All candidates must be graduates of a professional nursing school approved by a state accrediting agency and accredited by either:

1. The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or
2. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Bridge Program Exception: Candidates enrolled in a master's level nursing bridge program who have completed equivalent BSN-level coursework may be appointed temporarily and later converted to a permanent appointment upon graduation.

Foreign Education: Graduates of foreign schools must hold an active U.S. registration and obtain a formal credential equivalency evaluation from a recognized agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).

Licensure

Applicants must maintain an active, full, current, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.

Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Pathway

Candidates who meet educational criteria but are awaiting licensure may be appointed as a Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) on a temporary basis (120 days, extendable up to two years) while actively pursuing their license.

Key Federal Conditions of Employment

• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship is required. Non-citizens are considered only when qualified citizens are unavailable.
• Drug Testing: All tentative selections require pre-employment urinalysis screening. Employees are subject to ongoing random drug screenings.
• Health and Immunization: Candidates must pass a physical evaluation. Annual participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is mandatory.
• ID Compliance: Onboarding requires valid, REAL ID-compliant state identification cards by May 7, 2025.

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VA Nurse Grade and Level Comparison

The VA determines compensation based on your unique combination of education and experience. The boarding panel evaluates candidates against five critical dimensions: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence-Based Practice/Research.

Grade and Level	Required Academic Qualifications	Scope of Practice & Experience Requirements
Nurse I, Level I	Associate Degree (ADN) or Nursing Diploma	Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based clinical care; actively developing core technical competencies. No experience required.
Nurse I, Level II	ADN/Diploma + 1 year of experience OR BSN	Integrates biopsychosocial concepts and cognitive skills to manage basic and complex client needs.
Nurse I, Level III	ADN + 2 years of experience OR BSN + 1 year OR MSN	Demonstrates deliberate planning and self-direction in managing complex clinical scenarios.
Nurse II	BSN + 2 years OR MSN + 1 year OR Nursing Doctorate	Shows leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through cross-functional, collaborative strategies.
Nurse III	MSN + 2 years OR Nursing Doctorate + 1 year	Executes leadership, experience, and creative approaches to manage complex care models beyond the immediate setting.

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Salary Overview and Compensation Structure

The salary range for this position is exceptionally wide, spanning from $65,500 to $140,292 annually. Your exact positioning within this scale is decided by the Nurse Board, which evaluates your qualifications, education, and years of clinical practice.

Because this is an intermittent position, it is important to note how this compensation functions in practice:

• Sporadic Schedule: You will not have a fixed, pre-scheduled biweekly tour of duty. Your hours are scheduled dynamically based on resident population shifts and facility staffing requirements.
• Minimum Commitment: Selected candidates must maintain availability for at least one 12-hour shift per biweekly pay period.
• Differentials: Shift differentials (evening, night, weekend, and holiday pay) apply to hours worked, boosting overall hourly earnings.

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Why Choose a VA Nursing Career?

Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs is more than a job—it is a community. Even in an intermittent capacity, you will experience unique benefits:

• Unrivaled Professional Purpose: Every patient you treat has contributed to the protection of our country. The sense of mission and gratitude in the facility is palpable.
• Unrestricted Licensure Portability: Because the VA is a federal system, you can practice in Papillion, Nebraska, using an active nursing license from any U.S. state or territory.
• Whole Health Framework: Gain clinical expertise in holistic medicine, working with modern, multi-dimensional care practices that encompass mental, physical, and emotional health.
• Professional Networking: Join a highly cooperative clinical group of physicians, clinical specialists, and occupational therapists who value multidisciplinary care.

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Application Tips for Federal Positions

Applying for a federal position requires meticulous attention to detail. Follow these professional strategies to optimize your application:

1. Tailor Your Resume to the Five Dimensions: Do not simply list tasks. Explain how you initiated leadership, how you leveraged evidence-based practices, and how you facilitated patient-driven care in previous roles.
2. Explicitly List Dates and Hours: Federal HR specialists must verify your experience. Your resume should detail the start and end dates (Month/Year) and the average hours worked per week for every clinical position listed.
3. Provide Clean Documentation: Missing transcripts, unreadable license uploads, or incomplete DD-214 documents are the most common reasons qualified applicants are screened out. Double-check your attachments before submitting.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I apply if my nursing school was not ACEN or CCNE accredited?

No. The basic educational requirements mandate accreditation from either ACEN or CCNE at the time you completed your program. The only exception is for foreign graduates with a verified equivalent degree evaluation.

Q: Is there a probationary period for this role?

Yes. Selected candidates may be required to serve a standard probationary period to ensure suitability for federal service.

Q: Will the VA pay for my relocation to Papillion, Nebraska?

No. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) relocation allowances are not authorized for this intermittent opportunity.

Q: What is the Fair Chance Act, and how does it apply?

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the VA is prohibited from inquiring about criminal history prior to extending a tentative, conditional job offer. This protects candidates and ensures an equitable evaluation based solely on qualification.

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If you are a clinical professional looking for a flexible role that delivers profound emotional fulfillment and professional respect, the Community Living Center in Papillion, Nebraska, is your next career destination. By bringing your skills to the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System, you will provide vital comfort, skilled rehabilitation, and dedicated clinical leadership to America's military veterans. Apply today to transform your nursing practice into a noble service.