Registered Nurse - Certified Wound Care Nurse for Nursing, GEC

Summary The Wound Care Nurse will provide wound care treatments and wound management in the Community Living Centers and Hospice / Palliative Care unit.

They can also provide wound care in other practice settings to include Critical Care, Primary Care, Acute Care, Mental Health, and Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder (SCI&D).

Responsibilities The following duties are required of the position; they include, but are not limited to : Provides total wound care services to the residents to include wound assessments, management, and evaluation based on knowledge, experience, and research and has a direct impact on patient outcomes in the assigned area and for the facility.

Completes initial / weekly VAAES skin assessments on all admissions to the CLC & Hospice / PCP Units. Completes all dressing changes to all wounds and pressure injuries on the CLC and Hospice / PCP units to include daily, weekly, PRN, and any other time as designated by the provider.

Completes Weekly Wound Rounds on all units with a Nurse Manager (or designee), RN and Provider from Each CLC and Hospice / PCP Unit.

Documents all wounds / Pressure Injuries found on the (Phoebus / Seabreeze, HRE, and Yorktown / Langley) will be entered in the CPRS record after weekly wound rounds.

Submits Wound Round Report to the Chief Nurse weekly to note all wounds and pressure injuries that are found on the CLC units (Phoebus / Seabreeze, HRE, and Yorktown / Langley).

Documents all wounds / Pressure Injuries found on the Hospice / PCP will be entered in the CPRS record after weekly wound rounds.

Submits Wound Round Report to the Chief Nurse weekly to note all wounds and pressure injuries that are found on the CLC unit Hospice / PCP.

Completes all dressings change (s) for all residents with wounds and pressure injuries in the CLC units (Phoebus / Seabreeze, HRE, and Yorktown / Langley) during or directly after Wound Rounds and document in CPRS.

Completes all dressing change (s) for all residents with wounds and pressure injuries in the Hospice / PCP unit during or directly after Wound Rounds and document in CPRS.

Ensures that pictures are taken on all pressure injures and all wounds on the (Phoebus / Seabreeze, HRE, and Yorktown / Langley) units.

Ensures that pictures are taken on all pressure injures and all wounds in the Hospice / PCP unit on admission and during wound rounds.

Documents Pressure Injury Management Interventions on those Residents that are admitted with a pressure injury. Document in Pressure Injury Prevention Interventions on those Residents that are admitted without a pressure injury.

Ensures that those that are At Risk for Developing a Pressure Injury is placed on a low-air loss mattress. Ensures that those that are Admitted with a Pressure Injury or Kennedy Ulcer are placed on a low-air loss mattress or a specialty bed is ordered.

Responsible and accountable for assuring the routine nail and foot care is delivered throughout the CLC and Hospice / Palliative Care units.

Assess the nails and feet of each resident on admission, clean and trim fingernails, and toenails using appropriate caution.

Trims the toenails of the residents with diabetic, circulatory, or neurological problems as per their collaboration with podiatry.

Responsible for implementation / continuation of the 5-Star Foot Care Program within the CLC. Responsible and accountable for the provision of educational programs, orientation and training activities, and in services related to Wound Care for all nursing staff within Nursing, GEC and the Medical Center that will provide a positive impact on direct patient care and for the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran patient population.

Works in collaboration with physicians and other members of the interdisciplinary team, demonstrates advanced competencies in assessing wound and ostomy care treatments, orders patient care supplies, prosthetic devices, positioning devices, specialty pressure redistribution surfaces, and specialty beds.

Assists in the development of a wound care formulary, wound care policies, and procedures and the implementation of these tools.

Demonstrates knowledge in evaluation of pressure injury prevention and wound care. Uses the Braden Scale to develop a plan of care and makes the necessary recommendations to the interdisciplinary team that is in the best interest for the patient.

Provides patient and family education regarding the care and management of wounds and pressure injuries. 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, day shift Telework : Not Available Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report : Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment U.

S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959.

You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.

Graduate of an accredited Wound Care Specialist education program and has a valid VA approved wound care certification such as Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN), Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), Wound Care Certification (WCC), and Certified Wound Specialist (CSW).

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 : 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 : VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard.

This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Preferred Experience : Masters Degree, 3-5 Years Specializing in Wound Care, 3-5 Years RN Experience.

Physical Requirements : This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting, reaching, repetitive motion, and pushing.

Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The mental and sensory requirements include recall, reasoning, problem-solving, hearing, speaking clearly, writing, keyboarding, reading, and logical thinking.

The environment's pace can vary from steady to a sometimes fast pace requiring handling of multiple priorities, frequent, sometimes intense customer interactions, and the ability to adapt to frequent changes in a sometimes-noisy environment.

The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative / invasive procedures, or home settings.

The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and / or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Education Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.

e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date.

The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.