Vocational Nurse (Wound Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Palo Alto, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wound Care LVN/LPN at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System reports directly to the Wound Care Nurse Manager, Nursing Ambulatory Care. This complex assignment involves minimal supervision, coordination of competing demands, and setting priorities while supporting multiple providers and the operations of the wound care and telehealth clinics. The incumbent also supports the Inpatient Nursing Service and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics.

The LVN/LPN manages daily operations of the Wound Care and Tele-wound Clinics and collaborates with wound care providers to support continued care for Veterans with wound-related concerns, including pain, healing, dressings, and comfort. The position includes telehealth imaging and testing, patient-site coordination for real-time telehealth visits, patient education, wound evaluation and documentation, and appropriate referrals and follow-up under local policies, standing orders, and protocols. Providers retain overall responsibility for patient care.

The incumbent identifies and reports changes in patients’ physical and emotional condition, documents interactions and care in CPRS, and takes appropriate action within scope. The role also involves maintaining a safe, clean, therapeutic environment, following infection-control guidelines, and training and mentoring nursing staff in wound care practices. Current licensure, basic life support, and required TMS education must be maintained. The position may require flexibility in schedule and assignments. The stated schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or as determined by the supervisor; compressed or flexible scheduling may be authorized at the supervisor’s discretion.

Requirements

• Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by NLNAC when the program was completed.
• Full, active, current, and unrestricted LPN or LVN licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• For the GS-7 grade, at least one year of additional qualifying experience at the GS-6 level or equivalent, fully meeting GS-6 LPN/LVN performance requirements.
• Knowledge and skills to perform specialized patient care duties in complex inpatient or outpatient settings.
• Ability to contribute to patient health plans, carry out nursing interventions, and assist an RN or physician in prioritizing patient care and adjusting care plans.
• Ability to observe subtle physical and emotional changes, accurately document care and patient responses, and inform an RN or physician when higher-level intervention is needed.
• Ability to assist with medications and treatments, administer them according to established policies and procedures, record administration and patient responses, and recognize possible drug reactions.
• Ability to recognize urgent or emergent situations, seek assistance, and intervene as directed to support safe patient care.
• Ability to support patients and families in promoting healthy lifestyles and communicate effectively with patients or family members who may be difficult to care for or communicate with.
• Knowledge and skills in specialized nursing procedures and practices, including the ability to serve as a resource and mentor to nursing staff.
• Ability to monitor non-licensed nursing or medical staff practice and promptly report deviations to an RN or physician.
• Ability to exercise independent technical judgment under general supervision and seek educational opportunities to improve nursing practice.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated VA appointment exceptions for non-citizens.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment screening, identification, background/security investigation, onboarding, and physical evaluation requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.

Nice To Haves

• Wound care certification or experience is strongly preferred.
• Ambulatory clinical care experience.
• Basic Life Support (BLS).

Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operations of the Wound Care and Tele-wound Clinics.
• Collaborate with wound care providers to support continued care for Veterans with wound-related concerns, including pain, healing, dressings, and comfort.
• Make appropriate referrals as needed.
• Perform telehealth imaging and test administration for Tele-wound care as identified and referred by a VA provider.
• Generate consultations for patients when guided by local policy, standing orders, or protocols, while the provider retains overall responsibility for care.
• Provide individualized patient education about imaging and testing, expectations, follow-up, and addressing equipment failure or other environment-of-care concerns.
• Obtain abbreviated patient medical histories relevant to the examination.
• Coordinate clinical, business, and technical aspects of real-time telehealth wound clinic visits at the patient site.
• Identify subtle physical and emotional changes in patients, report them promptly, and initiate appropriate action within scope.
• Evaluate and document wounds and record interactions, observations, interventions, and outcomes in CPRS.
• Identify potential triggers for negative patient responses during pre-telehealth interviews and take action to mitigate or eliminate them.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment and adhere to infection-control guidelines.
• Maintain current licensure, basic life support, and TMS education requirements.
• Train and mentor nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members in wound care knowledge, skills, and compliance with standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility requirements.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k) with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed