Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse Clinician

About the Role

This position provides acute and rehabilitative care for people with selected disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary systems. The role includes education, consultation, counseling, research, and administration in Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nursing.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (Required)
• 1–2 years of clinical nursing experience in medical-surgical nursing (Required)
• Advanced knowledge of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing
• Knowledge of adult learning principles
• Participation in the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society™ (preferred)
• Registered Nurse licensure

Responsibilities

• Conducts thorough, individualized needs assessments for patients with wound, ostomy, or continence problems, involving patients, families, or support systems in the development of education plans and interventions.
• Assesses patients for individualized treatment modalities, specialty bed needs, or other products to maximize outcomes.
• Pursues professional growth by attending conferences and seminars relevant to WOC scope of practice.
• Actively participates in professional organizations related to WOC care at local, regional, and national levels.
• Participates in intradepartmental and Shared Governance Council meetings.
• Identifies knowledge and skills needed through self-assessment, peer review, and customer feedback.
• Defines goals for professional growth and engages in educational activities to maintain and enhance WOC knowledge and competence, including obtaining or maintaining certifications.
• Develops written educational plans based on needs assessments, incorporating assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation components.
• Coordinates care plans among health team members, patients, families, support systems, and continuum of care members.
• Creates an educational setting conducive to patient and family learning, providing adequate resources.
• Provides individualized education to ostomy surgery patients and families, progressing from basic survival skills to advanced self-management in wound, ostomy, and continence care.
• Determines appropriate stoma placement considering anatomical markings, physical capabilities, and lifestyle.
• Provides written postoperative and discharge instructions, referrals, and supply information to patients and staff.
• Participates in ongoing evaluation of patient progress related to treatment plans.
• Conducts annual reviews of educational processes, materials, and treatment protocols to maximize quality and patient outcomes.
• Collaborates with Purchasing to identify evidence-based products supporting continuous improvement.
• Manages WOC operations and monitors specialty bed utilization.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to integrate WOC knowledge and provide educational experiences for nursing and medical staff.
• Develops policies, best practices, protocols, and procedures.
• Serves as a client advocate, delivering care in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory manner.
• Mentors staff nurses in the care of patients with selected disorders.
• Monitors individual patient and organizational wound, skin care, and ostomy outcomes, coordinating relevant data collection.
• Provides supplemental support to ancillary departments with educational presentations.
• Collaborates with Value Analysis, Purchasing, Risk Management, Administration, and ancillary departments.
• Gathers and analyzes data for identifying trends, root cause analysis, and patient progress.
• Reviews and revises policies and procedures as needed.

Working Conditions

• Bending, climbing (rarely)
• Concentrating, continuous learning (consistently)
• Hearing: Conversation and other sounds (consistently)
• Interpersonal communication (consistently)
• Kneeling (occasionally)
• Lifting: <10 lbs., 50+ lbs., <50 lbs. (consistently)
• Pulling, pushing, reaching (consistently)
• Reading, thinking/reasoning (consistently)
• Sitting (occasionally)
• Standing, walking (consistently)
• Stooping (frequently)
• Talking (consistently)
• Use of hands, color vision, visual acuity (near and far) (consistently)

Professional Development

TriHealth encourages professional growth through:

• Continuing education classes and formal education leading to advanced degrees
• Attainment of specialty certification
• Membership in local, regional, and national nursing organizations related to specialty
• Involvement in community health improvement activities
• Participation in nursing research and evidence-based practice
• Fostering collaborative relationships among nurses, physicians, and other caregivers

Standards and Behaviors

All team members are expected to demonstrate the following SERVE standards and ALWAYS behaviors:

• Serve:
  • Welcome everyone with eye contact, a smile, and a greeting.
  • Acknowledge and assist lost patients or guests by escorting them or finding someone who can.
  • Refrain from using cell phones for personal reasons in public or patient care areas.
• Excel:
  • Take personal responsibility to address and recover from service breakdowns.
  • Prioritize patients and guests when waiting (e.g., lines, elevators).
  • Work on improving quality, safety, and service.
• Respect:
  • Respect cultural and spiritual differences and honor individual preferences.
  • Value everyone’s opinion and contribution, regardless of title or role.
  • Speak positively about team members and other departments in front of patients and guests.
• Value:
  • Be punctual, prepared, and actively participate in all activities.
  • Maintain a clean and safe physical environment by picking up trash.
  • Use supplies and equipment efficiently, avoiding waste.
• Engage:
  • Acknowledge wins and thank team members for their contributions.
  • Show courtesy and compassion to customers, team members, and the community.