Registered Nurse- Wound Care

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, IA is seeking a Registered Nurse to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care focused on skin and wound management. The RN will perform full wound assessments, measure and stage pressure injuries, cleansing, compression therapy, and apply appropriate wound treatments.

The role requires a nursing degree, permanent RN licensure, and ability to work within a team to deliver comprehensive care to Veterans in a

Qualifications

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive skin and wound assessments and document findings.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate wound care strategies and therapies.
• Administer medications and procedures per policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interprofessional team to coordinate wound care across settings.
• Maintain accurate documentation in VA EHR systems and participate in quality improvement.

Skills

Wound assessment

Nursing process

Patient care

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

BSN or MSN degree

Job description

Summary

This Registered Nurse (RN) is located at the Des Moines - Iowa VA Health Care System. This RN will assess - plan - implement - and evaluate care based on skin and wound assessment findings. They must demonstrate proficiency in performing the full scope of wound assessment and management including measurement - staging of pressure injuries - cleansing - application compression therapy - and selection and application of wound care treatments and therapies.

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/13095030
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising the management of patients/residents with acute and chronic wounds across clinical practice settings
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Completes comprehensive skin and wound assessments and recommends appropriate prevention and/or treatment interventions (and may include ostomy and continence care)
• Treatment recommendations may include wound dressings - advanced therapies - specialty mattresses - innovative technology (mobile application - 3D imaging - TeleWound - etc.) and other resources
• Provides timely and accurate documentation of skin and wound issues using Veterans Affairs (VA) approved enterprise standardized electronic health record (EHR) system
• Seeks guidance in how to improve wound care provided to patients
• Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs - condition - and safety of the patient
• Participates as active member of the core team to provide support for veterans with wounds and ostomies in an acute and outpatient setting
• Responsible for collaborating with services internal and external to the VA to facilitate care transition in order to effectively meet the patients needs
• Serves as a resource for wound/ostomy related nursing issues
• 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 - 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Preferred Experience: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) 2 years of nursing experience Wound Care Certification The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.