Job Description
The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center is hiring a Registered Nurse- Wound Care Specialist to provide expert wound and ostomy care across inpatient, outpatient, and community living center settings.
This role reports to the Associate Chief Nursing Services for Geriatric & Extended Care and is ideal for an RN with advanced clinical knowledge in wound management.
As the wound care specialist, you will assess, plan, and coordinate individualized care plans for patients with complex wounds, including pressure ulcers, arterial, venous, diabetic, traumatic, burns, and skin tears. You will also provide ostomy care, including pre- and post-operative education, stoma measuring, and pouching system selection.
This position offers the opportunity to educate nursing staff, Veterans, and caregivers on wound staging, wound descriptions, and ostomy care. You will also participate in new employee orientation and train visiting nursing and dietary students.
The role involves completing negative pressure wound therapy, dressing changes, and wound photography for documentation in CPRS. This is a full-time, permanent position with the Department of Veterans Affairs, offering a competitive salary and complete federal benefits.
Salary & Compensation
Salary: $62,228 - $116,260 per year.
Qualification
To qualify for this Registered Nurse- Wound Care Specialist position, you must be a U.S. Citizen, proficient in English, and a graduate of an approved nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE. An active, unrestricted RN license is required.
Wound and ostomy experience with WOCN certification is highly preferred.
- U.S. Citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
- English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
- Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of program completion.
- Foreign nursing graduates: Possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted RN registration meets the education requirement.
- Completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in an MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration is acceptable.
- Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
- Preferred Experience: Wound and Ostomy experience and certification (WOCN) highly preferred.
- Grade Determinations: Based on education and nursing practice experience as outlined in VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6. Nurse I Level I through Nurse III levels are possible depending on degree and experience.
- Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (35+ lbs), heavy carrying (35+ lbs), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulders, walking, standing, bending, near and far vision correctable, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Assess, plan, evaluate, and coordinate individualized care plans for patients with wound/ostomy needs.
- Provide care for a variety of wounds including pressure ulcers, arterial, venous, diabetic, traumatic, burns, and skin tears.
- Complete wound assessments including photography and downloading s to CPRS.
- Educate nursing staff on pressure ulcer staging, wound descriptions, and partial/full thickness wounds.
- Educate nursing staff, Veterans, and significant others on wound and ostomy care.
- Perform negative pressure wound therapy and complete dressing changes.
- Provide care and education in acute care, ICU, CLC, and outpatient clinic settings.
- Participate in new employee orientation and educate visiting nursing and dietary students.
- Provide ostomy care and education pre- and post-operatively, including stoma measuring and pouching system selection.
- Educate Veterans and caregivers on ostomy management.
Conditions & Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply.
- Subject to a pre-employment physical examination and must maintain physical readiness.
- Must pass a background/security investigation.
- May be required to serve a probationary period.
- Must complete an online onboarding process if selected.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all VA Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Must sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding deployment responsibilities prior to final offer.
- Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be able to meet physical demands including strenuous activity, carrying persons/equipment, walking long distances, running, climbing, long hours standing, bending, and stooping.
- May be exposed to infected patients, contaminated materials, and combative patients.
How You Will Be Evaluated
- Your application, resume, and supporting documents will be reviewed to ensure you meet the qualifications.
- Experience as an RN will be evaluated on five dimensions: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence-Based Practice/Research.
- Education, scope, and length of nursing practice will determine grade and salary within the listed range.
- Volunteer work and unpaid experience are credited if qualifying.
- After the announcement closes, applications are reviewed for qualification and eligibility.
- A referral certificate is issued, and referred applicants may be contacted for an interview.
- All referred applicants receive a final notification after a selection decision is made.
Required Documents
- Resume (CV) – upload a standard Clinical Resume Document (one-page) into the 'Resume' field; full resume/CV can be uploaded into the 'Other' field.
- Cover Letter (optional but accepted).
- DD-214 or Statement of Service (for Veterans' preference).
- Disability Letter (Schedule A or VA) if applicable.
- License (current RN license).
- Professional Certification (e.g., WOCN).
- Performance Appraisal (if applicable).
- Separation Notice (RIF) if applicable.
- SF-15 (Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference) if claiming 10-point preference.
- SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) if a current or former federal employee.
Benefits
- Complete benefits package as a federal employee, including health insurance, retirement, and paid leave.
- Eligibility for benefits depends on position type (full-time, part-time, intermittent).
- Access to a range of benefits designed to support a rewarding federal career.
How to Apply
- Review the full announcement on the official application portal and ensure you meet the qualifications.
- Prepare your federal-style resume and gather all required documents (see Required Documents section).
- Go to the official application portal and click 'Apply Online' to with your the official application portal/Login.gov account or create a new account.
- Complete the online application questionnaire, providing accurate responses about your experience and eligibility.
- Upload your resume and all required documents in the specified format.
Additional Information
- This position is located at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, 1111 East End Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
- Agency contact: Elena Rangel, Phone (361) 243-5356, Email [email protected].
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis for illegal drugs prior to appointment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a condition of employment for VA Health Care Personnel.
- Veterans' preference applies: eligible Veterans should claim preference in the questionnaire and provide supporting documentation.
- If you are relying on education to qualify, a transcript must be submitted. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks.
- You may opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers for similar positions, but this does not affect your current application.
About Company
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care to over 9 million Veterans each year.
VHA operates through medical centers, outpatient clinics, and community living centers nationwide, with a mission to honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. This position is part of the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, which serves Veterans in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The medical center offers a full range of services including primary care, specialty care, mental health, and extended care, with a strong focus on geriatric and chronic disease management. Working for VHA means joining a dedicated team of health care professionals committed to serving those who have served.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common applicant questions about this position, eligibility and the application process.