The Durham VA Health Care System is seeking a dedicated Registered Nurse to join our team.

Duties

The Community Living Center is a 66-bed facility that provides long term care, hospice, palliative care, rehab, and extended care services to eligible veterans within an Interdisciplinary environment. Three (3) distinct neighborhoods make up the CLC: a 10-bed Hospice Unit, and a 66-bed combination Long Term Care/Short Stay Unit/Rehabilitation. The Wound/Ostomy Care Nurse provides comprehensive holistic care using the nursing process in the coordination, prevention, and management of patients in the Acute, Residential, and Community Living Center settings with skin problems to include: acute and chronic wounds, pressure ulcers, ostomies/fistulas, medical adhesive related skin injury, and moisture associated skin damage. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Serves as a consultant, expert resource and educator to nursing and medical staff in the care of these patients, standards of care and evidenced based practice. Recommends wound care dressing orders, supplies, and management options as per practice standards and collaborative agreement. Demonstrates proficiency in wound vac Demonstrates proficiency in performing the full scope of wound care and management per specialty training and refers complex cases to appropriate specialties Utilizes advanced clinical knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, evaluating, and executing care of patients with skin breakdown, wounds, and pressure ulcers across the continuum of care: Recognizing the age related cognitive, physical, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and geriatric patient. Manages nursing care of patients with skin breakdown, wounds, pressure ulcers and ostomies; provides leadership role in guiding and directing others who provide care to these patients. 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. Functions as a service level expert in clinical practice areas related to skin breakdown, wounds, pressure ulcers and ostomies and fistula care. Develops and utilizes approved policies and procedures related to wounds, pressure ulcers, ostomy and fistula care while utilizing best practice guidelines to facilitate autonomy in providing care Practice is based on current and anticipated trends in health care. The nurse demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies. The CLC is designed to provide optimal comprehensive resident care within available resources and is consistent with the Medical Center and Nursing Service mission, philosophy, and goals. The length of stay for veterans in the unit may range from a few days to several years. The length of stay is determined by the individual needs of the veteran, potential for rehabilitation, and availability of resources for discharge to the least restrictive environment. Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated upon admission and continues throughout the patient's stay in the CLC. The CLC has an interdisciplinary team that includes staffing representing Nursing, Dietary, Social Work, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nurse Practitioners, and Physicians. The interdisciplinary team meets each week to discuss care planning and needs of patients. Nurses are competent in the management of patients with complex diseases such as Diabetes, CHF, COPD, Cancer, and Dementia. Staff receives education in other areas, including pain management and end of life care.

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. 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. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Preferred Qualifications: Minimum of 5-years nursing successful nursing practice in the role of RN; Prior wound care experience Certification Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients, families and other members of the interdisciplinary team; Demonstrated skills in decision-making, sound clinical judgment and critical-thinking abilities; Demonstrated ability to use computer systems in support of patient care delivery. Preferred Education: BSN Preferred Certifications: Preferred Certification(s) Gerontological Nursing Med/Surg Certification Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Care 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 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. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. The full performance level of this vacancy is Nurse III. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Nurse I to Nurse III. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands, both legs and repeated bending. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours); Pushing (up to 4 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 8 hours); Standing (up to 8 hours); Repeated bending (up to 8 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters; Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders; Emotional and Mental Stability: 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.

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.The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from CCNE - Accredited Programs (ccnecommunity.org) or Search ACEN Accredited Nursing Programs (acenursing.com)

• If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
• If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Kendra Morgan-Stevens
• Phone: 9192860411 X4082
• Email: [email protected]