Registered Nurse, Bsn - Wound Care

Independence Health System Careers•Greensburg, PA

7h•Hybrid

About The Position

Provides age-specific care to inpatients and outpatients with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulae, drains, pressure ulcers, and incontinence utilizing the nursing process. Assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patients, families, and staff, then plans, implements, and evaluates teaching. Facilitates an interdisciplinary approach to achieve positive patient outcomes. Collects patient health assessment data on admission and in an ongoing systematic manner as it relates to wound, ostomy, and continence care, focusing on the physical, psychological, age-specific, cultural, and spiritual needs of the patient. Develops an educational process for the provision and coordination of patient care activities that promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes. Assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patients/families specific to their wound, ostomy, or continence disease entity and the age of the patient, and develops their teaching plan. Develops and teaches didactic and clinical application programs for nursing personnel, physicians, and community groups on an as-needed basis. Acquires and distributes educational resources tailored to the patient's needs. Provides discharge instructions that demonstrate an inter-relationship between education, discharge planning, and continuity of care. Provides pre-operative counseling for patients scheduled for ostomy or continence surgery. Accepts and follows through on outpatient referrals for counseling and/or education. Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care. Participates in interdisciplinary forums related to wound, ostomy, and continence care. Takes action to proactively identify and resolve patient needs, including notifying physicians of identified concerns. Maintains a networking relationship with other area WOCNs. Participates in department performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer service. Evaluates products, techniques, and equipment related to wound, ostomy, and continence care and makes recommendations, revisions, and updates as appropriate. Keeps abreast of new products available and uses research findings to promote quality patient care. Maintains accurate statistical records. Demonstrates leadership by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the professional nurse. Demonstrates the ability to independently problem-solve utilizing critical thinking skills and seeks assistance from others as appropriate. Creates an awareness of the services provided by the Ostomy Support Group and other related organizations. Maintains accountability for actions taken. Effectively functions as a resource person. Acts as a patient advocate. Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires/students. Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs. Assists in the department's/organization's compliance with state, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies. Participates in preparation for inspections and surveys. Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies. Utilizes two forms of identification before implementing any form of patient care. Involves the patient and/or family in patient safety standards and processes. Assumes appropriate code team role during medical emergencies. Responds effectively during emergency situations. Assists in maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, visitors, and staff. Specialty Beds: Assesses need for and type of specialty bed. Monitors effectiveness of specialty beds. Works collaboratively with Central Processing and specialty bed companies on product evaluation, selection, and cost containment. Mentors staff on prevention, assessment, and treatment of pressure injuries. Monitors and gathers data regarding hospital-acquired pressure injuries on a monthly basis and reports to clinical directors and risk management departments. Develops and presents staff education programs on an as-needed basis as requested by clinical directors/education department. Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program.
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
Graduate of a Wound, Ostomy Continence Nursing Program.
Five (5) years’ experience in clinical nursing.
Strong leadership ability.
Good organizational skills.
Independent and critical thinking skills.
Sound judgment.
Knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
Wound Care Certification through WOCNCB, WANC, WOCN, CANCC within one (1) year of hire or transfer.
Act 33 with renewal.
Act 34 with renewal.
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Nursing preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides age-specific care to inpatients and outpatients with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulae, drains, pressure ulcers, and incontinence utilizing the nursing process.
Assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patients, families, and staff, then plans, implements, and evaluates teaching.
Facilitates an interdisciplinary approach to achieve positive patient outcomes.
Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
Assures quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
Maintains continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
Identifies patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
Promotes patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
Resolves patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
Maintains a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
Maintains nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
Collects patient health assessment data on admission and in an ongoing systematic manner as it relates to wound, ostomy, and continence care, focusing on the physical, psychological, age-specific, cultural, and spiritual needs of the patient.
Documents according to hospital policy within the established time frames.
Assists the nursing staff in developing a realistic plan of care for each patient assessed with wound, ostomy, or continence needs.
Reassesses the patient's condition and the effectiveness of the nursing interventions and makes recommendations or revisions to the plan per skin integrity protocol.
Involves the patient/family and initiates patient referrals to community agencies when appropriate.
Complies with completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of documentation.
Develops an educational process for the provision and coordination of patient care activities that promote and maintain health, foster self-care, and improve outcomes.
Assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patient/families specific to their wound, ostomy, or continence disease entity and the age of the patient and develops their teaching plan.
Develops and teaches didactic and clinical application programs for nursing personnel, physicians, and community groups on an as-needed basis.
Acquires and distributes educational resources tailored to the patient's needs.
Provides discharge instructions that demonstrate an inter-relationship between education, discharge planning, and continuity of care.
Provides pre-operative counseling for patients scheduled for ostomy or continence surgery.
Accepts and follows through on outpatient referrals for counseling and/or education.
Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
Participates in interdisciplinary forums related to wound, ostomy, and continence care.
Takes action to proactively identify and resolve patient needs, including notifying physicians of identified concerns etc.
Maintains a networking relationship with other area WOCNs.
Participates in department performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer service.
Evaluates products, techniques, and equipment related to wound, ostomy, and continence care and makes recommendations, revisions, and updates as appropriate.
Keeps abreast of new products available and uses research findings to promote quality patient care.
Maintains accurate statistical records.
Demonstrates leadership by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the professional nurse.
Demonstrates the ability to independently problem-solve utilizing critical thinking skills and seeks assistance from others as appropriate.
Creates an awareness of the services provided by the Ostomy Support Group and other related organizations.
Maintains accountability for actions taken.
Effectively functions as a resource person.
Acts as a patient advocate.
Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires/students.
Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs.
Assists in the department's/organization's compliance with state, JCAHO, OSHA, and other regulatory agencies.
Participates in preparation for inspections and surveys.
Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
Utilizes two forms of identification before implementing any form of patient care.
Involves the patient and/or family in patient safety standards and processes.
Assumes appropriate code team role during medical emergencies.
Responds effectively during emergency situations.
Assists in maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Assesses need for and type of specialty bed.
Monitors effectiveness of specialty beds.
Works collaboratively with Central Processing and specialty bed companies on product evaluation, selection, and cost containment.
Mentors staff on prevention, assessment, and treatment of pressure injuries.
Monitors and gathers data regarding hospital-acquired pressure injuries on a monthly basis and reports to clinical directors and risk management departments.
Develops and presents staff education programs on an as-needed basis as requested by clinical directors/education department.
Other related duties as assigned.