Wound Care Specialist

About the role

This position supports Enterostomal Therapy at UPMC Mercy and works either 8-hour or 10-hour shifts during daylight hours.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient within an episode of care.
• Maintains ongoing follow-up evaluation for appropriate ostomy and/or skin care patients with needs after discharge from the hospital to provide for continuity of care.
• Incorporates national professional organizations (NPUAP) and (WOCN) as well as business unit and health system’s goals to improve patient quality, safety and satisfaction in daily work.
• Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patient and their families as well colleagues.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing self and others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses, new staff, medical students and residents.
• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice by serving as a recognized leader in clinical expertise, teacher, specialized resource nurse, and/or evidence based practice in the nursing care of patients with alterations in skin integrity, wounds, ostomies, fistulas and/or incontinence.
• Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the healthcare team and participates in the peer review process.
• Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care of applicable patients within the WOCN department and the Nursing department at large.
• Serves on Teams and leads successful teams as a part of daily.
• Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skill within the context of Relationship Based Care.
• Participates in shared governance at department level and serves on or acts as a resource to hospital-wide councils.
• Buils and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace.
• Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment.
• Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities.
• Applies the Nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment.
• Formulates goal and a plan of care for applicable patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner.
• Practices solid communication skills and is able to articulate and translate the patient’s condition to other care providers, negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care.
• Communicates the plan of care to the nursing staff, physicians, patient and family, and other members of the health care team as applicable.
• Documentation of patient care and plan of care is complete and promotes communication between caregivers.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires.
• Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices.
• Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement.
• Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.
• Conducts in-services and formal lectures for nursing units and other members of the Health care team.
• Contributes to the professional development of the unit base skin care committee by participation in clinical development of the unit representatives.
• Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement. Applies evidence based practice aspect of professional practice.
• Participates in product evaluation for ostomy and skin care needs for the health system to ensure cost effective quality patient care.
• Participates in continuous learning within the specialty.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires.
• Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices.
• Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement.
• Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years nursing experience

Licenses, Certifications, and Clearances

• Current Pennsylvania licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse license or eligible for State Board Licensure.
• Certification in Wound Care preferred
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire

Special Skills and Abilities Required

• Exemplary clinical judgment with critical thinking, analytical and problem solving abilities required
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physician, non-physician providers.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment and handle multiple and changing priorities.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Act 34