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

Requirements

All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens. 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination. 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.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 10/05/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13079739. 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 is 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.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) License Long-form resume/Curriculum vitae (CV) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Additional information

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 applicant's 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. Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.