What are the responsibilities and job description for the Registered Nurse (Wound/Ostomy) position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The Registered Nurse will assume the responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
The Registered Nurse will assume the responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
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
- Preferred Experience: The RN MUST be certified as a Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) - Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) - OR Certified Wound - Ostomy - and Continence Nurse
- If not a certified nurse in the scopes listed - the RN must be eligible to become certified within one year of hire and maintain this certification every five years
- 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/12928104
- 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
- Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting - and turning
- It requires restraining confused patients - repositioning patients - assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars - and transporting them to other departments or facilities
- Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients
- The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
- The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
- This position requires visual acuity - good hearing - distinctive speech and manual dexterity
- The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect his/herself from physically abusive patients.
- Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to - the following: Responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determine the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care
- Focus on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
- Assess - plan - implement - and evaluate care based on skin and wound assessment findings
- Demonstrate proficiency in performing the full scope of wound assessment and management including measurement - staging of pressure injuries - cleansing - application of compression therapy - and selection and application of wound care treatments and therapies
- Complete comprehensive skin and wound assessments and recommend appropriate prevention and/or treatment interventions (and may include ostomy and continence care)
- Treatment recommendation may include wound dressing - advanced therapies - specialty mattresses - innovative technology (mobile application - 3D imaging - TeleWound - etc.) and other resources
- Provide timely and accurate documentation of skin and wound issues using Veterans Affairs (VA) approved enterprise standardized electronic health record (EHR) system
- Seek guidance in how to improve wound care provided to patients
- Delegate elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs - condition - and safety of the patient
- Bring principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills
- Must be certified as a Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) - Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) - or Certified Wound - Ostomy - and Continence Nurse certified within one year of hire and maintain this certification every five years
- Full scope certification is preferred
- 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: Full-Time - 7:00am-3:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote
- Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized https://youtu.be/EGW4PMZvJto?si=_f7pNchVqoK1KZal
Salary : $89,328 - $148,921