Wound Nurse

Fletcher Rehab and Healthcare Center, located in Fletcher, NC, is a Long Term Care facility that provides quality care to our residents.

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

• Daily:
  • 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 that skin sheets, treatment orders are written, and preventative measures are 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).
  • Provide daily education to staff: reminders to T&P residents (in wheelchairs, geri-chairs, and in bed), toileting, incontinent care. This can be done as the Wound Nurse progresses through the day and notices abnormal findings of the resident (dry BM, soaked, wound becoming worse).
  • Hold Nurses and CNA’s accountable for preventative maintenance. It is a team effort to heal wounds and to not create new wounds.
• Weekly:
  • 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.
  • Wound Report sent 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 needs to be treated by the Charge Nurse Monday-Friday with completion of the skin sheets weekly. Unit Manager and Wound Nurse to ensure these skin sheets are being completed by the charge nurse weekly.
• Ongoing:
  • Help prevent wounds through proactive measures.
  • When wounds worsen, change the treatment within a 2-week period with input from the Wound physician and PCP at the facility.
  • Ensure the following preventative items are completed 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 is beneficial).
    • Pressure-relieving device to chairs (if resident has a stage 4, they need to be on a Roho or something comparable). Every resident in the facility should have a gel cushion at minimum to their wheelchair/Geri chair.
    • Braden assessments completed with all new admissions and re-admissions, quarterly, and with any change in condition of the resident. If the Braden scores lower, a specialty mattress should be applied.
    • At-risk care plans should be placed for all residents because everyone is at risk.
  • Perform rounds with UM’s/charge nurses and wound nurse to ensure residents are positioned appropriately, T&P every 2 hours and as needed in bed and wheelchairs/Geri chairs, heels elevated, and no skin-to-skin contact.
  • Consult with the 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.
  • May act as a Unit Nurse when directed.
  • 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 during your shift. Chart detailed monthly evaluations of each resident that reflect their condition and progress.
  • Ensure residents' care plans are being followed and assess each resident’s status in accord with their care plan.
  • Round with Wound physician weekly and as needed 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 any behavioral changes.
  • Provide wound care when needed and delegate as necessary.
  • 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.

Requirements

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

Benefits

• New competitive wages and shift differentials.
• Amazing comprehensive insurance benefits package:
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
• PTO.
• 401K.
• Annual raises.
• Advancement opportunities.
• Same day pay option.
• New added bonuses available every pay period.
• Weekly employee appreciation activities, giveaways, and gifts.
• Employee discounts to local and national vendors.
• University partner offering tuition assistance to staff and dependents.

Schedule

Full Time, Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 3:30pm.