Wound Care Nurse RN/ LPN

About the role

In keeping with our organization’s goal of improving the lives of the Residents we serve, the Wound/Treatment Nurse plays a critical role in providing superior customer service and nursing care to all Residents. The Wound Nurse is responsible for performing skin treatments for all Residents under their care. This position will obtain treatment orders from attending physicians and assist with modifying the treatment regimen in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Treatment Nurse will provide supervision of staff and will safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all Guests under their care by following applicable laws, regulations, and established nursing policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Complete a Head to Toe body audit on all new admissions and re-admissions to ensure that all open areas have been identified by the admitting nurse; ensure skin sheets, treatment orders written and preventative measures put in place (T&P, specialty mattress, heels up ordered or boots).
• Review residents that have been identified to have new skin alterations and ensure implementation of skin sheet, treatment, specialty mattress, Braden scale updated, T&P orders, heels up orders or boots (if applicable) and initiate care plan (UM).
• Update skin sheets every 7 days; choose a particular day and ensure updated by close of business on that day.
• Unit Managers to update care plans weekly for pressure and non-pressure areas; care plans to be updated every week by Fridays.
• Send Wound Report to VP of Clinical Services by Thursday with the % of Center Acquired Pressure Ulcers; company goal is to have 3% or less.
• Treatments to be completed by Wound Nurse for: Vascular, Surgical, Pressure of stage 2 or greater Monday–Friday.
• Skin Tears, stage 1 need to be treated by the Charge Nurse Monday–Friday with completion of the skin sheets weekly; Unit Manager and Wound nurse ensure completion by Charge Nurse.
• Daily education to staff: reminders to T&P residents (in wheelchairs, geri-chairs and in bed), toileting, incontinent care.
• When wounds become worsened, change treatment within a 2-week period with input from the Wound physician and PCP at facility.
• Ensure the following preventative items for residents at risk of developing Center Acquired Pressure Ulcers: orders for T&P, preventive barrier cream for all residents (using a barrier cream with Zinc), pressure relieving device to chairs; residents with stage 4 should be on a Roho or comparable; every resident should have a gel cushion at minimum to their wheelchair/geri chair.
• Complete Braden assessments with all new admissions and re-admissions, quarterly and with any change in condition of the resident; apply specialty mattress if Braden score lower than a specified threshold.
• Place at-risk care plans for all residents; perform rounds by UM’s/charge nurses and wound nurse to ensure residents are positioned appropriately, T&P q 2 hours and prn in bed and wheelchairs/geri chairs, heels elevated and no skin-to-skin contact.
• Consult with nursing team concerning assessment evaluations and assist in planning and developing the skin care treatment to be performed; initiate requests for consultation or referral.
• Assess residents and their records on admission and discriminate between normal and abnormal findings to recognize when to refer the resident to a physician for evaluation, supervision or directions.
• Provide supervision to C.N.A’s and all subordinate staff, including checking their work to ascertain that assignments have been completed.
• Administer medications within the scope of practice of the R.N. or L.P.N. licensure; maintain a current report of narcotics received and used.
• Carry out direct contemporaneous charting in your shift; chart detailed monthly evaluations of each resident that reflect his/her condition and progress.
• Ensure residents’ care plans are being followed and assess each Guest’s status in accord with their care plan.
• Round with Wound physician weekly and prn with physicians; be knowledgeable of individual care plans and support the care planning process by reporting specific information and observations of the resident’s needs, preferences and report any behavioral changes.
• Provide wound care when needed and delegate prn; complete weekly skin sheets.
• Assure that established infection control and standard precaution practices are maintained when providing care; follow established safety precautions when performing tasks and using equipment and supplies.
• Maintain the comfort, privacy and dignity of residents and interact with them in a manner that displays warmth, respect and promotes a caring environment.
• Answer and respond to call lights promptly and courteously; assist with new admissions and re-admissions when directed.
• Communicate and interact effectively and tactfully with residents, visitors, families, peers and supervisors.
• Attend and participate in departmental meetings and in-services as directed.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited nursing program.
• Current State License as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse.
• C.P.R. Certified.