Registered Nurse (RN) - Wound Ostomy Continence

Job Summary

Serves as the clinical resource and consultant for the acute and rehabilitative care of patients with selected disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary systems. Provides specialty care for patients with acute and chronic wounds, standard and continent diversions, and fecal and urinary incontinence.

About the Role

Operating within a Level 1 Trauma Center, this team brings expert clinical judgment and compassionate care to patients with challenging wound healing needs. Our nurses hold specialized certifications in wound and ostomy care, ensuring evidence-based practices and optimal patient outcomes. They collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized treatment plans, provide education, and support recovery across diverse patient populations.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes the nursing process to assess and plan care and education for ostomy and wound care patients.
• Affirms patient care needs and identifies interventions for treatment/prevention of skin related conditions and ostomies.
• Performs and/or assists with stomal marking preoperatively, patient/family teaching, follow-up care, and discharge planning.
• Follows patients identified to be at moderate to high risk for skin breakdown and patients with complex wound management needs.
• Collaborates with medical teammates to identify care measures to prevent and treat pressure ulcers and complex wounds and fistulae.
• Works in concert with the medical staff in the use and application of clinical devices/support surfaces for prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
• Conducts ongoing evaluation of patients referred for WOC services to include effectiveness of interventions.
• Develops and maintains evidence based practice guidelines for care of the ostomy and skin care patients.

Requirements

• Work requires walking, standing, sitting, lifting, reaching, stooping, bending, pushing, and pulling. Must be able to lift and support the weight of 35 pounds in handling patients, medical equipment, and supplies.
• Must speak English in good understandable terms. Intact sense of sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Finger dexterity. Critical thinking and ability to concentrate. Must be able to respond quickly to changes in patient and/or unit conditions.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires walking, standing, sitting, lifting, reaching, stooping, bending, pushing, and pulling. Must be able to lift and support the weight of 35 pounds in handling patients, medical equipment, and supplies.
• Must speak English in good understandable terms. Intact sense of sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Finger dexterity. Critical thinking and ability to concentrate. Must be able to respond quickly to changes in patient and/or unit conditions.

Education, Experience And Certifications

• Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Current RN license or temporary license as a Registered Nurse Petitioner in the state in which you work and reside or; if declaring a National License Compact (NLC) state as your primary state of residency, meet the licensure requirements in your home state; or for Non-National License Compact states, current RN license or temporary license as a Registered Nurse Petitioner required in the state where the RN works.
• Baccalaureate degree required, MSN preferred.
• Graduate of a WOCN-accredited education program preferred.
• Wound and Ostomy certification required within 2 years of hire.
• Continence certification optional.
• Three to five years recent, relevant direct care nursing experience required.
• BLS required per policy guidelines.