Advanced Practical Nurse Wound Ostomy

Veterans Health Administration • Albuquerque, NM

23h • Onsite

About The Position

The New Mexico VA Health Care System is recruiting a Wound, Ostomy Care Nurse Practitioner in its Chief of Staff Service. This Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care in Surgical Service. The role delivers advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management, with an emphasis on quality, timeliness, and advancing the VA mission. The NP practices within the scope of their education, training, certification, and clinical privileges, and has prescriptive authority for a patient panel or program as indicated by the position.

The Skin/Wound/Ostomy Nurse Practitioner is a baccalaureate-prepared nurse with a master's degree in nursing and certification. As a Medical Center consultant, the NP assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care for Veterans with skin, wound, or ostomy issues. The role applies current research and evidence to patient care, initiates system changes, uses sound judgment, shares expertise, consults with others, and identifies, analyzes, and resolves care issues to improve outcomes.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework and virtual work are not available. Permanent Change of Station is not authorized, and a Financial Disclosure Report is not required.

Requirements

• Post-master's certificate, master's degree, or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
• Graduate of a professional nursing school accredited by ACEN or CCNE when the program was completed; foreign education must meet the stated equivalency validation requirements.
• Active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Maintain current, full basic board certification in an accepted Nurse Practitioner specialty from ANCC, AANPCB, or another nationally recognized certifying body in the area of academic preparation.
• For Nurse Practitioner III, one year of specialized APN experience equivalent to Nurse II is required; no experience is required at Nurse II.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English for direct patient care.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, physical evaluation, and onboarding requirements.
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Meet the physical demands, including heavy lifting and carrying of 45 pounds or more, pushing and pulling, reaching above shoulder level, use of fingers and both hands, walking and standing up to eight hours, repeated bending, and rapid mental and muscular coordination.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of wound and ostomy care experience, or completion of a WOCN Society-accredited educational program in wound management, or specialty/advanced-practice certification in wound and ostomy care (such as CWOCN, CWCN, CWON, CWOCN-AP, CWCN-AP, CWON-AP, or WOCN). Applicants without the certification are expected to obtain it within two years of employment.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management in Surgical Service.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate skin, wound, and ostomy care for Veterans.
• Manage a patient panel or program and exercise prescriptive authority as indicated by the position.
• Use research and current evidence to evaluate care delivery and contribute to changes that improve care quality and timeliness.
• Consult on wound, skin, and ostomy issues and share expertise with others.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve patient-care issues to improve care.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and promote cooperation and teamwork.
• Maintain required licensure and national board certification.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, including 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level