Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse - PRN

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides primary care to ostomy patients and consults with other primary caregivers, coordinating care if necessary.
• Consults with physicians and hospital staff for management of patients with ostomies, fistulas, draining wounds, special wound and skin problems, pressure ulcers, incontinence, and gastrostomy care with attention to specific tube-feeding problems.
• Observes emotional stability of patients, expresses interest in their progress and prepares for continuing care after discharge.
• Demonstrates specific care needs based on knowledge of correct prosthetic ostomy equipment and related products.
• Prepares for continuing care of patient following discharge.
• Provides health care instruction/education to patient and family members.
• Assesses, plans, implements, evaluates, and documents enterostomal patient education needs and care according to established hospital nursing service policies.
• Promotes patient education and care by developing and updating programs.
• Offers in-service presentations to hospital or outside agencies and prepares teaching materials for use with patients and professional staff.
• Variation of duties may result based on the assigned customer care unit(s). This may include differences in the specific clinical skills required of the RN. Unit based skill lists outline expectations beyond the house wide RN requirements. SYS-NURS-L Nursing Education Requirements Policy outlines current certification(s) required for specific areas of nursing practice and is considered to be part of the job description.
• In addition to requirements specified in the license and certification section below, current BLS certification for all areas of nursing practice is required.Current certification may be required for the following areas of nursing practice:Emergency Care Center - ACLS, PALSIntensive Care Center & MSCC Lead - ACLS, PALSL&D - ACLS, NRP, - Experienced L&D nurses will obtain within 6 months and new L&D nurses will obtain at 1 year of experienceNICU - NRPPEDS - PALSPCC/PACU/ENDO - ACLS, PALSProcedural - ACLS

Common Expectations:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, inservice meetings, and workshops.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.