Wound Care-LPN

About the role

The Wound Nurse is responsible for providing wound care to residents in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, as required by the Director of Nursing Services or designee.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates, measures, and stages all pressure/vascular ulcers and wounds within 24 hours of development, admission/readmission, or the next scheduled work day
• Coordinates and conducts wound rounds; completes documentation in the medical record and provides a summary report to the Director of Nursing
• Communicates wound status when treatment requires re-evaluation due to non-healing, deterioration, or improvement
• Performs wound treatments/surgical dressings as needed to evaluate current status or ensure continuity with resident wound management
• Makes resident rounds, observes and monitors care rendered by nursing assistants and licensed staff; provides orientation, training, and ongoing guidance on wound and skin breakdown prevention, wound management, and infection prevention and control
• Provides ongoing and periodic individual and group staff education on skin breakdown prevention, wound treatment, and infection control in collaboration with Nursing Management and Staff Development
• Reviews MDS documentation, care plans, and nursing documentation for accuracy as assigned
• Works as part of the healthcare team to evaluate resident needs, plan and modify care with the Interdisciplinary Team, and assist other licensed nurses and nursing assistants to provide optimal care
• Makes written and oral reports and recommendations
• Coordinates with other resident services to ensure the resident’s total regimen of care is maintained
• Periodically reviews and participates in updating the resident’s written discharge plan

Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in the state
• Must have wound care certification
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices, procedures, laws, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to long-term care
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and incorporate them into existing nursing practices
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s health
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace

Physical and Sensory Requirements

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday
• Must be able to speak and write English in an understandable manner
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics to ensure the requirements of the position can be fully met
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by facility policies, including a medical and physical examination
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile individuals
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds; infrequently lifts up to 50 pounds and up to 100 pounds with assistance
• Frequently pushes and pulls carts and transports residents
• May be required to assist in resident evacuation during emergency situations

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, a nursing degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program