Registered Nurse - Wound/Ostomy/Continence Care

The nurse promotes patient safety and participates in committee work appropriate to the service, collaborating with physicians and ancillary services to provide this care.

The wound/ostomy/continence RN provides specialized ostomy care and assists with wound and skin issues in inpatient and outpatient settings while managing their inpatient population as needed. The RN ensures continuity and quality of care and collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, and ancillary services.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following: 1. The RN will maintain a primary focus on the management of the Ostomy patient within the inpatient and outpatient setting as well as on-going/follow up wound care and pressure injury prevention within the inpatient setting. 2.

The RN will assist in the Ostomy outpatient clinics and evaluate walk in patients as needed. 3. The RN will order ostomy supplies for patients and follow up with patients related to the effectiveness of the product. 4.

The RN will round daily on inpatients with a new ostomy and provide education and emotional support to the patient and family as needed. 5. The RN is responsible for ostomy site marking prior to surgery. 6. The RN will assist with the triage of ostomy/wound consults. 7.

The RN will remain up to date on ostomy appliances and maintain an understanding of the process required to trial new products. 8. The RN acts as a resource to nursing and provider staff related to the wound and/or ostomy patient. 9. The RN reviews view alerts, responds to patient calls and concerns in a timely manner. 10.

The RN collaborates with the surgical team regarding the care of the wound or ostomy patient. 11. The RN communicates with Pharmacy, Distribution and Contracting as needed to ensure the patient has the appropriate supplies and equipment needed to maintain optimal patient care. 11.

Maintains awareness and promotes quality initiatives within the surgical population. 12. The RN is skilled in providing education to the patient, his/her family and others as needed regarding wound care, self-care and emotional support during the peri-operative period. 13.

The RN is involved in interdisciplinary health care groups to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the ostomy/wound care needs of inpatients transitioning to home post-operatively. 14.

The RN will provide timely and appropriate prevention and management interventions for patients with existing or are at high risk for development of pressure injuries to include but not limited to implementation, monitoring, revision, and documentation. 15. The RN will provide nursing staff education related to ordered interventions. 16.

RN will provide discharge planning for the high risk for pressure ulcer patient including equipment, and supplies necessary to continue prevention interventions after discharge to home, hospice, or extended care. 17. RN will facilitate ongoing performance improvement activities, monitoring of clinical outcomes are conducted.

Pressure injury related data and information are analyzed by the interprofessional Wound Collaborative team and reported to VA medical facility executive leaders at least quarterly for review. 18.

RN will provide education to patients related to their pressure injury and are provided with written discharge instructions regarding prevention, treatment and follow up. 19.

The RN will provide timely and appropriate prevention and management interventions for patients with existing or at high risk for development of pressure injuries to include but not limited to monitoring, revision, and documentation. 20.

The RN acts as a resource to nursing and provider staff related the patient on continuous Vacuum Assisted Closure devices. Preferred Experience: BSN prepared Two years of experience working in the wound care field. Wound, Ostomy, Continence (WOCN) certification or Wound, Ostomy certification; or other VA recognized wound care certification.

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 through Friday. 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Compressed/Flexible: Authorized under supervisor approval. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not required.

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/13020180.

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: Heavy lifting up to (35 pounds); heavy carrying up to (35 pounds); straight pulling (2-4 hours); pushing (2-4 hours); reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4-6 hours); standing (4-6 hours); repeated bending (2-4 hours); both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color; hear (aids permitted); mental and emotional stability.