Registered Nurse (Specialty Care)
Job Location:
Garner, IA - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The Registered Nurse working in the Podiatry Clinic located in the Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) at Garner VA Clinic. will function as a nurse in support of the Podiatrists.
The Podiatry team offers comprehensive medical and surgical care of the foot and ankle with a focus on limb preservation including care and treatment of complex ulcerations wounds and infections of the foot. Knowledge of wound care and application of advanced dressings and therapies including negative pressure therapy is required. Examples of other foot conditions seen include plantar fasciitis Achilles tendonitis metatarsalgia fractures arthritis deformities- Ankle or Foot bunions hammer toes ingrown nails and routine nail care. The RN will assist with the Foot Care nursing clinics and the scheduling of these clinics as needed. The RN will be a member of the PAVE committee and will be able to risk stratify patients for risk of amputation according to the existing VA protocols. The RN will keep up to date on infection control protocols and protocols involving reusable medical equipment and train the nursing staff on these protocols. The Podiatry RN will assess triage obtain history and document conditions and concerns for veterans presenting to the foot clinic in person and via the telephone. The RN will also triage the consults to the podiatry service as needed and enter orders per protocols under the supervision of the podiatrists. The RN will be the main point of contact for coordination of care for patients at risk of limb loss and will triage phone calls from patients with urgent needs.
The clinical nurse will coordinate care through the health continuum including discharge planning and coordination of inpatients as they transition to outpatient status. Duties will include but not be limited to oversight of nursing staff to insure smooth and on time clinic flow patient intake documentation point of care testing and health screening. The Clinic Nurse utilizes the nursing process as the basis for patient care practice. Additional responsibilities of the Clinic Nurse (RN) are to provide effective patient/family education based on individualized learning needs to include discharge instructions facilitate communication and coordination of interdisciplinary activities make appropriate referrals and peri-operative planning.
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
Work Schedule: 8- hour tours Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:00am-6:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
- U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.
Basic Requirements:
- English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) 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 the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited 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); OR Individuals attending a masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
- 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements but do not possess the required licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
Grade Determinations: The following Scope Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates and if appropriate the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice Veteran/Patient Driven Care Leadership Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: I Level I
Preferred Qualifications:
Minimum of three years of successful clinical practice.
Previous experience wound and ostomy care.
Previous podiatry and/or diabetic experience.
Prior recent experience in ambulatory care/primary care nursing including care of patients with mental health and health education needs.
Previous experience in the care manager role and coordinating care/care delivery.
Previous experience with telephone advice nursing.
Demonstrated proficiency in using the nursing process in providing care for clients with complex care needs.
Previous knowledge/experience with the patient centered medical home practice model.
Demonstrated ability in the areas of interpersonal relationships problem solving/critical thinking skills and conflict resolution.
Demonstrated outcomes in working effectively with interdisciplinary team in the outpatient setting.
Demonstrated ability to function independently use good communication skills and to be flexible.
Computer skills and typing proficiency sufficient to permit real-time documentation of patient encounters enter and retrieve data.
Prior experience with determining patient assignments unit management and charge nurse responsibilities. Ability to work with minimum supervision.
Preferred Level of Education:
BSN
Preferred Certification(s)
CFCS/CFCN Certified Foot Care Nurse
DWC Diabetic Wound Certification
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit Requirements: This position requires visual acuity keen hearing; clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking standing stooping sitting bending pulling lifting and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations operative/invasive procedures or home settings.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicants criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations Security and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Required Experience:
IC
