Nurse Practitioner (NP) - Wound/Ostomy

The Wound/Ostomy, Advanced Practice Nurse provides expert consultation to veterans with wound and/or ostomies, and other clinical problems, within their area of specialty across the care settings. The emphasis is on providing the services needed to promote the maximum level of functional status and quality of life for the veteran various clinical needs.
This position is part of the Spinal Cord Injury unit at Edward Hines Jr., VA Hospital and will cover the Ostomy clinic 1/2 day per week.

Qualifications:

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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).
  • NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:
Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B).

• Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care.
  • Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork

Preferred Experience:

• 1-2 years experience as an APRN (NP/CNS)
• WOCN certification

Physical Requirements:

This position involves physical activities typically associated with advanced practice nursing duties, including physical assessments. The physical requirements include moderate lifting (15-44 lbs), manual dexterity utilizing both hands and fingers, standing for approximately two hours, and repetitive bending for two to four hours.
Examples may include but are not limited to:

• Significant amounts of time standing assisting patients.
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Responsibilities:

The Wound/Ostomy, Advanced Practice Nurse is a registered nurse who provides expert consultation on an advanced level to veterans with wound and/or ostomies, as well as other clinical problems, within their area of specialty across the care settings, Throughout, the emphasis is on providing the services needed to promote the maximum level of functional status and quality of life for the veteran various settings appropriate to clinical needs.
The Advance Practice Wound/Ostomy nurse:

• Establishes a medical diagnosis based on comprehensive assessment.
• Makes advanced clinical decisions.
• Uses prescriptive authority, procedures, referrals, treatments and therapies in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations.
• Is credentialed as a provider in accordance with the regulations of the VA system.
• Provides leadership in coordination of multidisciplinary health care for an integrated delivery of care of the veteran.
• Facilitates/coordinates use of systems/community resources to implement and enhance care across the continuum.
• Analyzes outcomes (related to organizational care delivery and populations served) to make recommendations for improvements in care delivery systems across the care settings.
• Conducts, critically appraises or synthesizes research that discovers, examines and evaluates knowledge, theories. Criteria and creative approaches to improve health care practices.
• Provides leadership in developing care models to manage chronic WOC care issues.
• Develops and implements education programs for veterans, staff and other health care providers.

PROGRAM GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
All NPs are required to be competent in the standards of nursing incorporating evidenced based care. Based on the NP's patient assessment, the NP must be able to initiate care independently based on department standard operating procedures. The NP is expected to communicate timely and effectively with all members of the Interdisciplinary Team as well as relate courteously and appropriately to all internal and external customers. Finally, the NP is expected to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment working as a patient advocate and build strong teams within-multiple levels of interdisciplinary staff.


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/ 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $142,486