Wound Care Nurse

About the Role

The primary responsibility of this position is to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the facility during your tour of duty. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern the facility. You may also be required to assist the Director of Nursing (DON) and/or Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) to ensure the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Director of Nursing Services in directing the day-to-day functions of the nursing activities in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Participate in developing, maintaining, and updating written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department.
• Ensure that reference materials (e.g., PDRs, regulations, professional standards of practice) maintained at nurses' stations are current.
• Recommend written materials to assist the nursing service department in meeting residents' day-to-day needs.
• Ensure the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects day-to-day nursing procedures.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel comply with procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the Director concerning the operation of the nursing service department.
• Periodically review department policies, procedure manuals, and job descriptions, and make recommendations for revisions.
• Assist in developing methods for coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure continuity of care.
• Ensure all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested.
• Periodically review and update residents' written discharge plans.
• Assist the Director in planning the nursing services portion of residents' discharge plans.
• Meet with nursing staff and support personnel to plan department services, programs, and activities.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Interpret department policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, and charting.
• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID codes, passwords, or residents' protected health information, and report any suspected violations.
• Report any unauthorized attempts to access the facility's information system.

Committee Functions

• Attend various facility committee meetings (e.g., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Quality Assessment) as required.
• Assist in preparing reports of nursing service programs and activities for committees.
• Provide information to the Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee as requested.
• Participate in developing the agenda for Care Plan Committee meetings.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of discharge plans and make them available to the Care Plan Committee.
• Implement recommendations from established committees as instructed by the Director.

Personnel Functions

• Ensure a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses are available for your tour of duty to maintain quality care.
• Ensure a sufficient number of certified nursing assistants are available to meet residents' daily nursing care needs.
• Develop work assignments and assist in completing tasks.
• Delegate administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability to Charge Nurses for their assigned duties.
• Ensure all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved training program.
• Ensure nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
• Make daily rounds to ensure nursing service personnel perform their work according to acceptable standards.
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure adequate staffing levels and report issues to the Director.
• Ensure departmental personnel comply with established policies, including dress codes.
• Review complaints and grievances filed by department personnel and report to the Director.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with inter-department personnel.
• Create and maintain a positive, calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Meet with your shift regularly to identify and correct problem areas or improve services.
• Review and evaluate the department's workforce and make recommendations to the Director.
• Participate in employee performance evaluations and make recommendations concerning staffing, dismissals, or transfers.
• Ensure disciplinary action is administered fairly and without bias.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals.
• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure unattended computer workstations are properly logged off or password-protected.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing service personnel of new admissions, their expected arrival time, and room assignments.
• Ensure rooms are ready for new admissions and greet newly admitted residents.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary and encourage timely documentation of progress notes and orders.
• Consult with residents, their families, and physicians to plan care, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Notify the resident's attending physician and next-of-kin of changes in the resident's condition.
• Visit residents daily to observe and evaluate their physical and emotional status.
• Ensure direct nursing care is provided by qualified personnel (licensed nurses, certified nursing assistants, or nurse aide trainees).
• Review nurses' notes to ensure they are informative, descriptive, and reflect residents' responses to care.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary, including starting IVs, obtaining specimens, taking vitals, and administering medications.
• Monitor seriously ill residents and assist the Charge Nurse as needed.
• Authorize the use of restraints in accordance with facility policies.
• Ensure RNs and LPNs comply with procedures for medication administration, storage, and control.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure adherence to orders.
• Review medication cards for completeness, accuracy, and adherence to stop-order policies.
• Inspect nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure they are clean and safe.
• Ensure residents who cannot call for help are checked frequently.
• Meet with residents and/or family members as necessary and report problems to the Director.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents and inform family members of resident deaths.
• Call funeral homes when requested by the family.

Staff Development

• Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and scheduling in-service training classes.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual facility training programs (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control).
• Assist the Director in planning clinical supervision for nurse aide trainees.
• Attend and participate in continuing education programs to maintain licensure and stay abreast of professional changes.

Safety and Sanitation

• Assist the Safety Officer in developing safety standards for the nursing service department.
• Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying and classifying tasks with potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Ensure personnel performing tasks with potential exposure receive appropriate in-service training.
• Ensure an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is available and used properly.
• Monitor personnel to ensure compliance with established safety regulations for equipment and supplies.
• Ensure nursing service work areas are maintained in a clean and safe manner.