This position is located within Nursing Service at the Memphis VA Medical Center. The position is assigned responsibility for providing comprehensive, high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services to veterans who are rendered care at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center VA. This position works with the interdisciplinary team including Providers, Nurses, Pharmacist, Nutritionist, Outpatient Clinic, Quality Management, and others.

Duties

The WCPM is responsible for assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the wound care program and for all veterans receiving service at this facility and upon appropriate referral/consult. Individual is directly accountable to the Nurse Managers of the SCI/D service. Duties include: serving as a consultant for patients with complex draining wounds, fistulas, pressure sores as well as skin problems related to renal and urinary incontinence and high-risk foot problems; providing direct care and monitoring on an interim basis; educating staff, patients, and family members in wound care and in developments in care and management of wounds and fistulas; defining the program, planning the overall program, and monitoring the progress; collecting data; preparing and submitting reports to Nursing Leadership; identifies risks and issues and develops ideas to correct. The RN is accountable for adhering to established policies, standard of care, and standards of practice that demonstrates leadership within Nursing Service. The RN will be responsible for the Wound Care Program and can-do direct wound and ostomy on patient care when needed. Is responsive to patient needs and ensures customer satisfaction which reflects an understanding of age specific and developmental needs. Advocates for continuity and coordination of patient care needs both within and outside of the Medical Center, including all health care teams/members such as physicians, nurses, aides, Pharmacy, Social Services, Psychology/Psychiatry, Physical Therapy, Dietary and all other departments. Serves as a resource for co-workers and other multi-disciplines of the nursing unit staff for education, evidence-based practice, and research. Knowledgeable with VA wound care performance measures and unit goals as established by the Nurse Manager on the inpatient units. Participates in quality improvement projects. Completes documentation in a timely manner. Responds to wound consults in a timely manner. Interacts with staff in an ethical, consistent, fair, timely, appropriate, and decisive manner in accordance with hospital and nursing policies. Actively participates in professional enrichment and education when opportunities are presented. Performance is evaluated annually and is based on the four Dimensions of Practice. Produces charts, grids with the wound care data monthly and quarterly for the inpatient areas and outpatient, if needed. Facilitate the IPEC Committee to affect positive change in patient care. Grow and develop the wound care program so that staff are more involved with staging wounds and having unit peer leaders for wound care. Uses interpersonal communication strategies with individuals, patients, and co-workers, to promote respectful and courteous behavior. Reflects a team player approach in the execution of all duties so to be perceived by other health care employees as approachable when assisting in the achievement of established goals and objectives for providing patient care and improving clinical outcomes. Collaborates in the development and revision of policies and procedures pertinent to the program. The program evaluation and revision are performed in conjunction with VA's mission Follows all regulatory guidelines that are applicable in the delivery of patient care and ensures conformance to federal, and Department of Veteran Affairs instructions, guidelines, standards, and regulations. Participates in established quality improvement studies and/or activities evaluating patient care systems that may include standards, protocols, and documentation for efficiency, safety, and quality. Serves as a resource for other team members in providing expert knowledge and skills to promoting evidenced-based best practice health care for optimal patientcare. Leads performance improvement efforts in preventing and reducing acquired pressure injuries Submits data quarter to management regarding QI initiatives. 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 Pay Schedule: N082 Work Schedule: 7:30am -4:00pm, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May Be 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: Wound care/Ostomy experience Rehabilitation/ Med-Surg experience WOCN certified 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. Physical Requirements: The following will be required to do intermittently within an 8-hour or 12-hour tour of duty. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds; heavy carrying, 45 pounds; straight pulling 8-12 hours, pushing 8-12 hours; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, both hands required; walking 8-12 hours; standing 8-12 hours; kneeling 8-12 hours; repeated bending 8-12 hours; both legs required. In addition, the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; emotional/mental stability; keyboarding 8-12 hours; viewing computer screens 8-12 hours. These tasks listed will be performed intermittently over the course of the scheduled tour of duty 8 to 12 hours.

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/. 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.

Contacts

• Address Memphis VA Medical Center 1030 Jefferson Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 US
• Name: Danielle Weatherford
• Phone: 224-628-5979
• Email: [email protected]