Registered Nurse - Dermatology Navigator

Summary

The Dermatology Nurse Navigator provides direct and indirect nursing care to Veterans and their families within the Dermatology Department. The RN provides patient-centered care in accordance with established policies, standards of care, and professional nursing practice and demonstrates leadership in the delivery and coordination of dermatology services.

Duties

The primary purpose of the position is to assess, plan, implement, evaluate, delegate, and coordinate individualized patient care throughout the continuum, from the pre-procedural phase through discharge. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Duties of the Dermatology Nurse Navigator include, but are not limited to: Provides competent, evidence-based nursing care to Veterans receiving dermatology services and coordinates individualized care from the pre-procedural phase through discharge. Performs initial patient histories and assessments and develops individualized nursing care plans, including discharge planning and pain management. Administers medications in accordance with established policy and utilizes applicable electronic health record systems in the delivery and documentation of care. Ensures equipment and supplies are available and in complete readiness for patient care and procedures and ensures compliance with hospital policies and procedural protocols. Ensures correct patient identification using two patient identifiers and completion of required procedural time-outs in accordance with medical center policy. Applies critical-thinking skills to prioritize patient-care needs and serves as a clinical resource to other staff within the dermatology practice. Identifies patient-care problems and initiates appropriate referrals to other disciplines and services. Accurately documents patient findings, assessments, interventions, and care provided in the electronic medical record. Functions independently in managing the care of assigned patients and caregivers and assigns staff based on competencies and identified patient-care priorities. Recognizes emergency situations, initiates appropriate interventions, and demonstrates knowledge of infection-control precautions applicable to the patient population. Participates in shared governance, performance improvement, and patient-safety initiatives and maintains clinical knowledge and skills through ongoing education. Provides oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the practice setting and maintains accountability for delegated nursing activities. Works with a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement current care plans for Veterans with skin cancer, collaborating with ENT, plastic surgery, social work, primary care, and other services as needed. Communicates and coordinates with members of the healthcare team on behalf of Veterans to promote continuity and timely delivery of dermatologic care. Coordinates patient appointments, surgical procedures, and referrals for skin cancer and other dermatologic conditions. Uses established clinical protocols to refer Veterans to appropriate specialists for diagnosis and treatment and assists Veterans and their families in obtaining specialty referrals. Provides emotional support and counseling related to the Veteran's clinical situation and works with designated physicians to develop and maintain applicable hospital protocols. Participates in the development and enhancement of processes designed to improve the clinical experience for referred Veterans and referring providers. Collaborates with referring providers and appropriate departments to educate healthcare professionals and facilities regarding available dermatology services. Uses advanced nursing expertise to identify and implement process improvements and participates in the design, direction, and implementation of healthcare plans. As appropriate, participates in approved research activities, including identifying appropriate patients for participation, obtaining informed consent, collecting and analyzing data, and preparing data for publication. Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaboration with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals and evaluates nursing practice based on current evidence. Supports the professional development of healthcare staff through education, knowledge sharing, mentoring, precepting, and teaching. Integrates evidence-based practice and research with clinical expertise and monitors, analyzes, and evaluates patient-care outcomes to support quality improvement and efficient care delivery. Promotes Veteran-centered care, patient safety, effective communication, teamwork, and compliance with applicable VA policies and professional standards. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: To be determined based on the needs of the service. Work schedules may require flexibility, including rotation of tours or work on non-administrative tours, as established by the immediate supervisor. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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