Job Summary:

The purpose of the Wound Care Nurse position is to support the nursing department and facility wide directives through specialized focus on Wound Care Specialist (WCS) This job description is not an all- inclusive list of essential functions for the job described, but rather a general description of some of the responsibilities necessary to carry out the duties of this position

Major Duties and Critical Tasks:

• Facilitates the operation of the facility Infection Prevention/Control Program and supports continuous quality improvement.
• Supports the facility and medical staff, departments and teams including guidance, training, technical support, celebrating successes and continued learning related to infection prevention.
• Chairs the infection Prevention/Control Committee and as a member of other committees as assigned.
• Compiles and submits data related to Infection Prevention.
• Supports facility Quality Improvement activities with data support, analysis, and internal consulting.
• Monitors and maintains current knowledge of key facility accrediting and regulatory agencies indicators/standards.
• Develops policies and procedures that support infection prevention and control.
• Consults with CNO and LTC DON and non-clinical managers to ensure infection prevention and control measures are followed.
• Identifies, investigates, and reports health care associated infections among patients and personnel through ongoing surveillance.
• Maintains logs with infection surveillance data.
• Maintains current knowledge of CDC guidelines and recommendations for infection prevention/control and definitions of health care associated infections.
• Calculates infection rates using the CDC’s recommended denominator data, prepares, and presents reports to Infection Control Committee.
• Responsible for providing Infection Prevention orientation and other in-service programs related to infection prevention and control for the facility.
• Collaborates with HR and provides direction regarding employee health issues such as exposures, vaccines, or vaccine preventable diseases, communicable diseases and other infection. prevention/control related issues involving facility employees.
• Makes recommendations regarding real or potential problems/improvement opportunities, including desirable approaches for resolution.
• Collaborates and reports to appropriate agencies/regulatory organizations
• Follows the standards set by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Wound Care Specialist

The Wound Care Nurse coordinates treatment to provide comprehensive wound assessments and plan of care including goals, implementation of treatment, evaluation, and outcomes for patients throughout the facility. Provides patient, family and staff education regarding wound management, prevention of pressure ulcers, support surfaces, dressing selections and other therapies. Acts as the resource person for physicians and clinical staff for wound management. Additionally, is able to perform general nursing duties in all departments with adequate supervision. Participates in quality improvement plan for the facility.

Essential Responsibilities

• Ability to perform wound assessment, reassessment, and management for all patients and per policy.
• Knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and dermal systems.
• Utilizes current wound management theory when providing care to patients with acute and chronic wound. Follows the standards of the Organization of Wound Care Nurses (OWCN).
• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of staging system of wounds.
• Develops skin care programs to prevent skin breakdown.
• Knowledge and skill to develop and implement policies and procedures to manage patients with draining wounds, fistulae and/or tubes; wound prevention, wound care, ostomy care, and incontinence.
• Ability to revise plan of care as indicated by the patient’s response to treatment and evaluate overall plan for effectiveness.
• Demonstrates ability to perform treatments and provide services with nursing scope of practice.
• Formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning to include patient, family, and employees as appropriate.
• Knowledgeable of medications and their correct administration based on the patient and clinical condition.
• Acts as a resource person to physicians, nursing, and other facility staff. Provides in-services on wound prevention, wound care, ostomy care, and incontinence.
• Documentation meets current standards and practices.
• Integrates research findings to clinical practice.
• Participates in professional societies. Stays current with changes, new advances/treatment in wound care.34
• Serves as a liaison between physicians, patients, and manufacturers of clinical products.
• Knowledgeable of clinical products currently available on the market.
• Operates all equipment correctly and safely.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.

WOUND CARE NURSE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) License by the State
• Wound Care Certification Desired
• Skilled Nursing Experience Preferred
• Must have good assessment skills, self motivated with good customer service skills. Able to work well with wound care consultant and organization is important.