Registered Nurse - Wound Care RN

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Registered Nurse - Wound Care RN to provide specialized wound consultation and collaboration with providers, peers, and others in healthcare to develop, implement, and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans throughout the continuum of care.

This VA role requires a current RN license, wound/ostomy care experience, and ability to lead quality improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a nursing program with current, unrestricted RN license.
• MSN WOCNCB certification preferred; 4–5 years wound/ostomy care experience.
• Experience in program development and data gathering/reports using Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate wound care.
• Coordinate care focusing on patient education and self-management.
• Collaborate with interprofessional team to optimize outcomes.
• Coordinate with quality/improvement and IPIC for data reports on wounds/pressure injuries.
• Educate clinical staff on evidence-based wound care practices.
• Support program development and leadership in wound care services.

Skills

Wound care

Ostomy care

Nursing leadership

Data reporting

Education

RN license (unrestricted)

BSN or higher

MSN WOCNCB certification (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

The Registered Nurse - Wound Care RN - provides specialized wound consultation and collaboration with providers - peers - and others in healthcare to develop - implement - and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans 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: MSN WOCNCB certification 4-5 years nursing practice experience/wound/ostomy care experience Previous experience in program development Demonstrated leadership - self-directed - and rational problem-solving skills Experience with gathering data and preparing reports utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Word/Excel) Ability to apply analytical and evaluation techniques Excellent interpersonal skills Knowledge of principles of quality and performance management - patient safety and evaluation techniques Leadership in improving and sustaining the quality and effectiveness of care 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/13094639
• 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 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 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: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• The Registered Nurse - Wound Care RN - duties include - but are not limited to the following: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on skin and wound etiology
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Coordinates care by serving as an expert clinician and patient/resident advocate in wound management (which may include ostomy and continence care)
• Provides leadership based on an interprofessional approach to wound care to ensure implementation of effective treatment strategies and decisions
• Coordinates with local quality management/improvement and/or safety team - Interprofessional Pressure Injury/skin Committee (IPIC) and other specialty service lines to monitor and report data (pressure injury/wound) and quality reports
• Identifies programmatic steps to reduce risk and incidence of pressure injuries
• Participates in the administration of education to all clinical staff to support the delivery of current - evidenced based care to assure consistency - uniformity - and quality of care
• Monitors effectiveness of education provided and assures evidence-based current content of education
• 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: Variable 8 hour shifts - with occasional weekend coverage Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.