Registered Nurse (Wound Care Coordinator)

Summary

The Wound Care Program Coordinator (WCPC) provides leadership to nursing staff in all aspects of wound - ostomy and continence nursing. The WCPC supports the Nurse Managers in the development - implementation and management of the Wound Care and Pressure Injury Prevention Program within Nursing Service. "The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below."

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/12808056
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Wound Care Certification - Knowledge of MS Products - Excel - SharePoint etc. - and Previous Program Management Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: A physical examination will be required if selected for this position.

Duties

• DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Collects - monitors - analyzes and communicates nursing sensitive pressure injury prevention and management indicators at the unit and service level - along with the Nursing PI Coordinators
• Role is characterized by autonomy of practice - in-depth nursing knowledge - and specialization in wound - ostomy - and continence nursing care
• Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice - including access to care and discharge planning
• Provides comprehensive holistic care using the nursing process in the coordination and management of patients with but not limited to acute and chronic wounds - pressure injuries - ostomies - and fistulas
• Serves as a role model and participates with the interdisciplinary team to achieve optimal patient outcomes
• Responsible for providing leadership for Patient Care Services (PCS) in the aspects of assessment - measurement - and process improvement with regards to patient care and organizational functions
• Will develop and coordinate Patient Care Service Performance Improvement Plan Key aspect of the role will be tracking - analyzing - and trending process activities in patient care and organizational functions
• Collaborate with the Unit Level Nurse Managers and the Finger Lakes Interprofessional Pressure Injury Committee (IPIC)
• Provides ongoing - comprehensive evaluation and improvement of clinical practice and health care delivery systems to meet the needs and anticipated trends in health care
• Serves as expert in preparation for the Joint Commission and Office of the Inspector General continued readiness and other appropriate regulatory standards
• Serves as the PCS Service Recovery Contact
• Serves as a representative on medical center and service committees
• Coordinator analyzes - monitors - and reports on wound care issues and events
• Oversees the management of specialty bed - mattress rentals and negative pressure wound therapy equipment
• Recognizes subtle changes in patient's condition and responds timely - choosing the correct interventions
• Develops standards of care and assists in the formulation and evaluation of procedures - protocols and policies related to wound/ostomy patient care for VA Finger Lakes Health Care System
• Provides guidance to staff to identify - control or eliminate etiologic factors for skin breakdown - including selection of appropriate support surface
• Provides follow-up for patients with ostomies and wound care
• Instructs and demonstrates to patient and/or significant other - correct procedures in Wound/ostomy management and care
• Initiates assessments - plans - and provides care to patient with ostomies - draining wounds - fistulas - pressure ulcers - acute and/or chronic wounds with orders/referrals from Medical Provider - Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
• Provides comprehensive care and teaching to patients and their families regarding the evaluation - selection - and recommendation of supplies and equipment in order to provide optimal wound and ostomy care
• Analyzes stock items and recommends appropriate additions and deletions to assure quality and cost-effectiveness of products used for ostomy and wound care
• Manages Wound Program development with maintenance of records - statistics and submits reports
• Assists staff to maintain current knowledge and competence in the areas of skin - wound - and ostomy management
• Provides specialized consultation and collaboration with physicians - licensed independent practitioners - peers - and others in the health care organization to develop - implement - and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans
• Prescribes appropriate treatment consults such as wound dressings - ointments - advanced therapies - and specialty mattresses
• Monitors and evaluates the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers in the Medical Center and coordinates prevalence and incidence studies
• Assesses and identifies the educational needs of all levels of nursing staff regarding wounds - ostomy and continence
• Participates in the administration of current - evidence-based education of staff - monitoring outcomes 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: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position.