Registered Nurse- Wound Ostomy Continence

Registered Nurse- Wound Ostomy Continence

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Minneapolis, Minnesota

Salary Range: $90469 - $154749 Per Year

Job Summary: The Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (WOCN) is a Registered Nurse who provides specialized wound consultation and collaboration with providers, peers, and others in health care to develop, implement, and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans throughout the continuum of care. Clinical areas of patient care include: outpatient, critical care, acute care, sub-acute, transitional rehabilitation, memory care, long- term care and hospice services.

Major Duties:

• The WOC RN identifies programmatic steps to reduce risk and incidence of pressure injuries. Participates in the administration of education to all clinical staff to support the delivery of current, evidenced based care to assure consistency, uniformity, and quality of care. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Expert clinician and patient advocate in the specialty area of wound, ostomy and continence nursing. Facilitates and coordinates the wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) care of patients throughout the facility. Demonstrates proficiency in performing the full scope of wound care and management including measurement, irrigation, cleansing, application of venous compression wraps, application of wound care treatments and therapies, obtaining swab cultures. Performs comprehensive skin assessments and recommends appropriate prevention and/or treatment interventions. Provides assessment and documentation of wounds, ostomies and continence. Identifies and institutes preventive and treatment measures and monitors results of care delivered. Performs diabetic foot examinations and recommends appropriate interventions. Provides specialized nursing consultation and collaboration with physicians, licensed independent practitioners, peers and others in the health care community to develop, implement and assure continuity of individualized treatment plans. Recommends appropriate treatment interventions such as wound dressings, ointments, advanced therapies, laboratory tests and cultures, and specialty mattresses. In consultation with General and/or Plastics Surgery providers, perform conservative sharp debridement of PI and other wounds, based on assessment. Conservative sharp debridement is defined as selective removal of loosely adhered nonviable tissue using sterile instruments. Work in collaboration with the ordering providers to recommend topical medications, medicated dressings and other supplies indicated for the treatment of PI and complex wounds based on published National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) guidelines, evidence-based literature, established facility clinical protocols, and VA Directives. Work in collaboration with the ordering providers to recommend, implement, and manage Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) devices for inpatients and outpatients to facilitate wound healing. Mark the location of all new ostomies. Assess the needs of ostomy patients, and then identify and recommend the appropriate pouching systems and ostomy supplies. Assessthe needs of ostomy patients and identify and recommend the appropriate pouching systems and ostomy supplies. Provide education and training to patients/caregivers on ostomy care. Provides evaluation of the effectiveness of appliances, supplies, specialty therapies such as mattresses currently used and being considered for future use for wound and ostomy care. Completes consults from nursing staff and providers for WOC, ensuring timely response for both inpatients and outpatients. 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: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Qualifications: 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 master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) or Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) is preferred with 2 years of recent hospital-based nursing experience within the past five years. Wound Ostomy, Continence Nurse (WOCN) or Wound Care Certified Nurse (WCC) certifications preferred. WOCN certification is strongly encouraged by the end of one year in this position. 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953172. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of examination.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply online for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete online application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/12/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12953172. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-12