Clinical Nurse III - Wound Care

The eligible list will be used for future openings as they occur in the Wound Care Competency Areas in the County of Santa Clara Health System. Currently there is one Clinical Nurse III – Wound Care position open at Regional Medical Center. This position includes required weekend shifts as outlined in the RNPA Memorandum of Understanding.

About the Role

Under general supervision, to apply the theoretical concepts of the nursing profession while providing direct patient care within the parameters of established nursing policies and procedures in patient care situations required by the assigned clinical setting; to initiate and perform established nursing interventions utilizing current clinical knowledge.

The Clinical Nurse III classification is expected to have the knowledge and abilities to assume charge nurse responsibility. The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse II classification in that the Clinical Nurse III performs under general supervision and is expected to identify and implement nursing interventions that have less predictable outcomes and evaluate the results of these interventions for a given patient population, whereas the Clinical Nurse II works under supervision while performing specific patient care assignments.

The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Nurse Coordinator classification in that the Nurse Coordinator has permanent, ongoing responsibility to teach staff and organize the patient care of a specific patient population or designated clinical program. The Clinical Nurse III classification is distinguished from the Assistant Nurse Manager classification in that the Assistant Nurse Manager has permanent, ongoing responsibility to supervise a designated nursing unit or ambulatory care clinic.

The Clinical Nurse classification series is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse classification series in that the Clinical Nurse classification series works directly with individual patients or a defined patient assignment, where patients are injured, ill, or in life-threatening situations requiring nursing interventions, whereas the Public Health Nurse works in clinics, homes, and community settings caring for the health of the population to prevent disease and improve population health. The Clinical Nurse classification series differs from the Psychiatric Nurse classification series in that the Psychiatric Nurse classification series works in mental health hospitals and clinics providing psychiatric and nursing interventions.

Typical Tasks

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

Assessment

• Analyzes and validates data taken from interviews of patients; revises assessments based on observation of patient behaviors.
• Identifies common recurrent patient problems, symptoms, and behavioral changes in relation to standards of care and individual patient needs.
• Assesses the needs of a specific patient population by making purposeful rounds, participating in clinical conferences, and collaborating with physicians and other healthcare team members.
• Assesses the competencies of personnel assigned to a specific patient group.
• Assesses the need for development of standards of care for a specific patient population.
• Assesses the numbers and levels of personnel needed to provide nursing care for a specific patient population.

Planning

• Identifies patient care problems, establishes priorities, and develops individual patient care plans based on nursing and medical diagnosis.
• Plans strategies for solving patient care problems with other members of the healthcare team.
• Plans for patient needs within current assignment to determine amount and type of assistance needed.
• Develops a plan for teaching patients and family regarding recurrent health problems, coping mechanisms, and health practices related to maintenance of wellness and prevention of disease.

Implementation

• Collaborates with appropriate personnel in performing new procedures and/or in functioning in unfamiliar situations.
• Coordinates activities needed to implement the plan of care.
• Coordinates patient and family teaching.
• Coordinates discharge plans with appropriate support personnel.
• Complies with external and internal regulations pertaining to nursing practice.
• Recognizes legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of registered nurses.
• May participate in conducting research activities.
• When assigned charge responsibility, makes recommendations for the unit level staffing pattern and assigns personnel to provide for patient care during an 8-hour period.
• Assists in teaching students and staff.
• May assume role of primary nurse with accountability to specific assigned patients.
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required.
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of an active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions; and three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience, of which one (1) year must have been within the last three (3) years, in an accredited hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting; and one (1) year of full-time RN experience, within the last three (3) years, in the nursing specialty area. A nursing specialty is a field of nursing that focuses on either a particular patient population or a health condition.

Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possession of a nationally recognized certification in a specialty area is preferred.

Clinical Nurse III applicants would meet the employment standard for this specialty by possessing: an active California Registered Nurse License without restrictions; and three (3) years of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience, of which one (1) year must have been within the last three (3) years, in an accredited acute care hospital setting; and one (1) year of full-time RN experience, within the last three (3) years, in the Wound Care nursing specialty area in an accredited acute care hospital setting.

Special Requirements

Must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:

• Basic Life Support Certification (BLS).

For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:

• Wound and Ostomy Certified Nurse (WOCN), or Wound Care Certified (WCC), or Wound Care Specialist (WCS).
• Other identified specialty area certification(s) for specialty patient populations at appointment, as required.

Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge Of

• California Nurse Practice Act.
• American Nursing Association Code of Ethics.
• Nursing Professional Practice Model.
• Federal and State healthcare laws and regulations appropriate to the operation of California hospitals.
• Current nursing and related medical theory necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting.
• Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care clinical nursing, including community aspects and continuity of patient care.
• Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems as related to a clinical specialty area.
• Clinical systems, supplies, and equipment.
• Safety and Infection Control practices.
• Sciences basic to nursing (anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology).
• English usage, style, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Common computer systems and charting applications.

Ability To

• Establish relationships with patients/families in difficult or crisis situations.
• Advocate for the patient/family perspective and work toward resolution of conflict.
• Develop and implement complex teaching plans.
• Be a subject matter expert and be recognized by other staff.

About Santa Clara Valley Healthcare

The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community. Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County. Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH), since 1989, has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.