The Wound/Ostomy/Continence Registered Nurse (RN) for Medicine Services is assigned to the Office of the Chief Nurse Executive at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois. FHCC is a VA and DoD dually integrated healthcare center providing care services to Veterans, Active-Duty Military Personnel, and their beneficiaries, including outpatient pediatric services.

Duties

The Wound/Ostomy/Continence RN executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The Wound/Ostomy/Continence RN provides independent nursing expertise in the assessment, data collection, and analysis of the patient's clinical and psychosocial status, diagnosis and current treatment plan; coordinates the myriad of medical treatments, referrals, and education; and assesses the needs of the patient/family and/or significant other's understanding as it relates to the diagnosis, treatment options, psychosocial impact, and discharge planning. The Wound/Ostomy/Continence RN expertly assess the medical and psychosocial needs of new patients, identifies the optimal range of individualized treatments, assures the highest quality of treatment and related healthcare services are provided in a timely manner. The Wound/Ostomy/Continence RN develops, monitors, evaluates and revises the protocols, procedures and practices as needed to successfully manage the area of specialization. Major Duties and Responsibilities Demonstrates and maintains core and position specific competencies. Contributes to the establishment and implementation of evidenced-based nursing standards of practice. Independently collects, reviews, and analyzes patient outcome data through interview, medical record review, and analysis of aggregate data. Reports the status of aggregated data and trends noted to appropriate staff. Assists staff with routine and timely completion of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Screening, identifies priority needs for patients with complex problems. Involves patients/significant others with plan of care and coordinates plan with the team members and wit other links in patients' continuum of care. Utilizes policy orders appropriately. Assesses subtle and potential changes in signs, symptoms, and/or changes in patients' condition/behavior and modifying nursing interventions accordingly. Establishes collegial relationships with other staff within the facility, the VISN, and the VA. Coordinates and participates in community related activities to disseminate information and interpret the mission of the program and the VA. Collaborates with other disciplines and caregivers, using the group process for decision-making in interdisciplinary problem solving for patients. Supports Nursing Service verbally and by example and implements nursing practice consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the James A. Lovell, Federal Health Care Center. Assists others in practicing the same. Communicates with patients, and the interdisciplinary team regarding the quality of care, interventions, and goals for patients. Provides leadership in developing and maintaining standards of care which contribute to safe, comprehensive, and quality services to patients receiving services. Evaluates the delivery of care using standards of care/practice, analyzes findings and various reports and recommends changes in practices. Facilitates QI processes at the unit and service level. Uses knowledge of mission, vision, and values to facilitate care and monitors quality improvements for improved outcomes. Describes and utilizes the continuous quality improvement process, roles, and responsibilities. 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 to 4:00pm Telework: Not authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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: Have a Have at least a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing or; MSN/MN or Master's Degree in a related healthcare field; Have at least (4) four years of increasingly complex nursing practice; Ostomy Management Specialist (OMS) certification, preferred; Have/maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS); Demonstrated ability in data tracking, management, analysis of results; Excellent organizational, communication, writing, and time management skills; Be proficient in the written and spoken use of the English Language. 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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. Working Conditions: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform the following job-related duties: moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); walking (up to 2 hours); standing (up to 4 hours); prolonged sitting (up to 4 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of colors; and hearing (aid permitted). The employee maybe exposed to the following: working closely with others, exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations; and 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. Administrative duties to include, computer key board typing, computer screen viewing, answering/placing telephone calls, and note taking. A health examination, as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy, must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

IMPORTANT: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

IMPORTANT: For foreign education equivalency the only certifying body the VA recognizes is CGFNS and its' subsidiary, International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Without certification of BSN-equivalency, the VA can only consider the degree at the associates level and pay will be determined accordingly.

Contacts

• Address Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Antionette Sneed-Clay
• Email: [email protected]