Registered Nurse Wound Care Specialist

About the role

Under general direction of the CNO, the WCS RN 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.

Responsibilities

• Conducts comprehensive assessment and continuous assessment of deep wounds, skin tears, ostomies, severe burns, pressure injuries or bedsores, continence and diabetic foot wounds to determine potential wound complications, immediate treatment needs, and long-term treatment plans; works with other members of the health care team to determine if additional treatments or changes in care are required.
• Collaborates with clinical providers and health care team to establish individualized, comprehensive plans of care for patients with complex wounds, ostomies, and/or continence conditions based on the patient's risks, diagnosis, and individual patient needs.
• Creates a plan of care for the interdisciplinary health care team, including the staff nurses, to follow.
• Completes a thorough wound care evaluation and documents assessments and treatment recommendations.
• Evaluates patient’s responses to care provided in conjunction with patient’s physician and modifies pressure ulcer /wound care /ostomy plan of treatment as needed.
• Provides staff, patient, and family education and counseling regarding wound care, risk factors associated with pressure injury, infection prevention, treatment measures, and other related issues; provides teaching, guidance, and direction to allied nursing personnel in rendering patient care.
• Refers other acute/chronic skin alterations to appropriate specialty services (i.e., Surgery, Vascular, Podiatry, Dermatology, Plastic).
• Develops and implements wound and skin care prevention and treatment programs, and provides corresponding education to patients, family members/caregivers, and health care settings and allied personnel; evaluates and monitors effectiveness of programs to ensure successful functioning and efficiency.
• Participates in product evaluation for ostomy and skin care needs for the health care setting to ensure cost effective, quality patient care.
• Participates in the development, evaluation, and revision of health care setting policies, procedures, and guidelines related to wound care, based on patient needs, evidence-based trends, and industry standards.
• Collaborates with appropriate staff to establish protocols that support best practices to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
• Serves as a clinical expert to provide staff nurses with wound treatment protocols and assists in the education of staff nurses on how to assess wounds.
• Serves as a clinical expert to provide staff nurses with wound treatment protocols and assists in the education of staff nurses on how to assess wounds.
• Observes, records, and interprets patient response and wound status, reporting any changes to appropriate members of the health care team; records and maintains nursing care plans and progress notes on patients.
• Participates in departmental and interdisciplinary committees, conferences, nursing quality committee, and/or quality improvement initiatives relating to wound, ostomy, and continence issues.
• Develops policies, procedures and programs facilitating the delivery of evidence-based practice provided to pressure ulcer/wound care/ostomy patients.
• Manages the collection and analysis of all data related to Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries. Utilizes quality measures of pressure injuries and standards to mitigate risk and drive improvement efforts in the performance of nursing care.
• Provides in-services on wound prevention, wound care, ostomy care, and incontinence.
• Coordinates and supervises and performs patient care as necessary.

Qualifications

• BSN required. MSN, APRN, preferred
• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Certification (CWOCN) or Certified Wound Care Consultant (CWCC) required, Certified Wound Care Specialist plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Current or compact RN licensure in the state of New Jersey
• BLS, ACLS
• 3 years of nursing experience required in hospital or LTACH.