Registered Nurse (RN)-Wound Care
About The Position
The Wound Care RN provides skilled nursing care to patients with acute, chronic, and complex wounds under established clinical protocols and provider-directed plans of care, including wound assessment, treatment, patient education, documentation, care coordination, and infection prevention, working closely with physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and the interdisciplinary team. A national wound care certification is not required but is ideal. RNs without certification who have a strong desire to specialize in wound care are encouraged to apply; the organization offers precepted clinical hours to help build wound care competency toward certification.
Requirements
- Current, unrestricted RN license in the state of practice
- Graduate of an accredited nursing program
- Current BLS certification
- Ability to maintain required facility credentials and professional requirements
Nice To Haves
- Current national wound care certification (e.g., CWCN, CWON, CWOCN via WOCNCB; WCC via NAWCO; or CWS via ABWM)
- Previous wound care experience (diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, venous/arterial wounds, surgical or traumatic wounds)
- Experience in outpatient wound care, hospital, home health, skilled nursing, or post-acute care
- EHR experience
- Knowledge of CMS/payer documentation expectations
- Strong nursing assessment and documentation skills
- Knowledge of wound healing and infection prevention principles
- Excellent patient/caregiver education and communication skills
- Effective interdisciplinary coordination
- Strong organization and time management
- Motivation and self-direction to complete precepted hours
Responsibilities
- Perform comprehensive wound assessments; document location, measurements, drainage, tissue appearance, odor, surrounding skin condition, and pain.
- Monitor healing progression and recognize abnormal findings, promptly reporting changes to the treating provider.
- Implement treatments per provider orders and protocols: cleanse wounds, perform dressing changes, apply prescribed dressings/products, and assist with debridement and advanced procedures within RN scope.
- Monitor patient tolerance and response to interventions.
- Prepare patients, treatment areas, and supplies for wound care visits; assist providers during exams and procedures; obtain vital signs and relevant history.
- Facilitate provider orders for labs, imaging, cultures, home health, DME, and specialist referrals; follow up on results and route significant findings.
- Communicate and coordinate care with physicians, NPs, home health agencies, SNFs, hospitals, pharmacies, and other care partners, including transitions of care.
- Complete accurate, timely documentation of wound measurements, interventions, patient response, and education provided at each encounter.
- Maintain records in compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, state Board of Nursing requirements, and CMS and other payer documentation/coverage requirements.
- Participate in wound outcome monitoring, quality initiatives, clinical audits, and ongoing wound care education.
- Educate patients/caregivers on provider-directed wound care, infection warning signs, dressing-change technique, and factors affecting healing (offloading, compression, nutrition, glycemic control, mobility, etc.).
- Assess understanding of home care instructions and reinforce treatment adherence and follow-up.
- Follow standard precautions, infection prevention protocols, and requirements for cleaning, disinfection, and disposal of supplies/instruments.
- Monitor for signs of infection or systemic deterioration and escalate immediately; follow sharps/biohazard/exposure procedures.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
