Career Center

Summary

Registered Nurse (Certified Wound Care - Ostomy and Continence Specialist) utilizes the nursing process to manage conditions such as acute wounds - chronic wounds - fistulas - vascular ulcers - pressure ulcers - arterial ulcers - venous ulcers - neuropathic ulcers and functional disorders of the bowel and bladder. This position is located at the Edward Hines - Jr. VA Hospital and will be required to float between Acute Care - Long Term Care and Spinal Cord Injury.

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
• (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/12975559
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse 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: ONS approved certification in Wound and Ostomy Care 3-5 years of Wound and Ostomy Care experience Proven Leadership abilities Practice driven by evidence based practice Focus on collaborative practice Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Duties

• The Certified Wound Care and Ostomy Care Registered Nurse (RN) reports to the Chief Nurse and is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on skin and wound etiology
• The RN has continuing responsibility for the following functions: Coordinates orders and delivery of inpatient wound - ostomy supplies and specility mattresses
• implement comprehensive and evidence-based program for prevention and maintenance of skin and wounds
• Provides patient and staff education in areas of ostomy/continent diversion care - wound and fistula management - prevention and management of skin breakdown/chronic wounds - hospital acquired pressure injury prevention - bowel and bladder management
• assist staff to initiate appropriate discharge referrals based on evaluation of patient's physical - psychological and self-care status
• Position may entail additional duties as assigned
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Provides leadership and oversight to non certified wound care team members using strong critical thinking skills and exhibiting a robust technically skilled wound care practice Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Analyzes resources available to staff and identifies risk areas - including quality metrics - supplies - equipment - availability of data and information
• Provides specialized wound consultation and collaboration with providers - peers - and others in health care to develop - implement - and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans throughout the continuum of care
• Provides leadership based on an interprofessional approach to wound care to ensure implementation of effective treatment strategies and decisions
• Coordination with local quality management/improvement and/or safety team - Interprofessional Pressure Injury/skin Committee (IPIC) and other specialty service lines to monitor and report data (pressure injury/wound) and quality reports
• Identifies programmatic steps to reduce risk and incidence of pressure injuries
• Participates in the administration of education to all clinical staff to support the delivery of current - evidenced based care to assure consistency - uniformity - and quality of care
• Monitors effectiveness of education provided and assures evidence-based current content of education
• Defines process for procuring wound therapies - products - and supplies for the IPIC and clinical staff to facilitate timely implementation of wound treatment and management strategies
• Collaborates in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Responsible for the documented wound care outcomes at the program or service level
• Wound Care program level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• The Wound Care RN has vast wound care experience and knowledge with the situations in which they are ultimately expected to perform - skillfully integrating theoretical concepts - strong critical thinking skills - and exhibits an expert technically skilled practice
• Mentors and coaches colleagues through wound care knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence based-practice culture
• 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: 06:30 AM- 4:00 PM (subject to change based on the needs of the team)- compressed tour with rotating weekends
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.