Registered Nurse- Wound Care Specialist
What you'd do
This position is located at the Wilkes-Barre VAMC, and reports to the Associate Chief Nursing Services Griatric & Extended Care
Major duties
The RN - Wound Care is a professional nurse (RN) with extensive clinical and technical knowledge in wound care. This person is responsible to assess, plan, evaluate, coordinate and establish the individualized care plan for all residents/patients with wound/ostomy needs. The wound care RN is certified and their scope includes inpatient areas, outpatient areas and the CLC. Provide and assess variety of wounds, including pressure ulcers, and arterial, venous, diabetic, traumatic, burns and skin tears. Complete wound assessment including picture taking and downloading to CPRS. Educate nursing staff about pressure ulcer staging, wound descriptions and partial and full thickness wounds. Educate nursing staff, veterans and significant others about wound and ostomy care. Complete negative pressure wound therapy and complete dressing changes. Provide care and education in acute care, ICU, CLC and outpatient clinic setting. Participate in new employee orientation and educate visiting nursing and dietary students. Provide ostomy care and education pre and post-operative. This includes stoma measuring, assisting with the correct pouching system. Educating veteran and care givers in regards to stoma care and applying wafer/ pouch, as well as troubleshooting a stomal/peri-stomal complications that may arise. Collaborate with surgery and primary care physicians to provide and plan of care. Collaborate with physicians to provide continuity of care. Collaborate with Community Health Nursing staff and Home Health agencies to provide the best care for our Veterans out in the community. Manage Wound care RN outpatient wound care clinic, scheduling, recommend treatments, and work with other disciplines including Primary care physicians, surgery staff, and community health nurse. Work Schedule: 7-3:30 Mon-Fri Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
What you need to qualify
Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: Wound and Ostomy experience and certification WOCN Highly Preferred Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. 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.Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (35 pounds and over); heavy carrying (35 pounds and over); 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; hearing (aid permitted); mental and emotional stability. 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, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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.
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