Registered Nurse, Wound Care

Care New England Health System•Warwick, RI

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides direct care to clinic patients under the direction of the Program Nurse Manager. Working autonomously, the RN accepts responsibility and accountability for planning, implementing, and evaluating age-specific patient care in accordance with the State Practice Act and WRHMC and Kent Hospital policies and procedures. The RN performs wound-care assessments and treatments, develops and updates plans of care in collaboration with physicians, patients, and significant others, and evaluates patient responses to treatment. The role includes patient and family education on wound care, dressings, compression therapy, diabetic foot care, venous disease, off-loading, and underlying disease processes. The RN documents care and communicates patient information clearly and promptly, collaborates with the care team, supports quality improvement, and contributes to a safe care environment. The RN is expected to maintain professional competence through mandatory and continuing education, pursue advanced wound or ostomy certification within an agreed-upon timeframe, and follow applicable clinical, safety, infection-control, and organizational standards.

Requirements

Current Registered Nurse license in good standing in the applicable state.
BLS certification.
Two years of prior experience in an acute care setting.
Working knowledge of advanced wound-care principles and products.
Ability to implement a holistic approach to patient care.
Ability to utilize lift equipment.
Eligible for advanced wound/ostomy certification and willing to actively pursue and obtain certification within an agreed-upon timeframe.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science degree in a related field.
Ambulatory care experience.

Responsibilities

Provide direct clinic patient care and continuously assess, plan, revise, and evaluate care according to individual and age-specific needs.
Document patient assessments, interventions, responses, education, changes in status, supply use, and charges accurately, legibly, and promptly.
Apply evidence-based wound-care knowledge and nursing skills in accordance with organizational and hospital policies and procedures.
Integrate diagnostic data into assessments and notify physicians of results in a timely manner.
Educate patients and families about wound care, dressing applications, compression therapy, diabetic foot care, venous disease, wound off-loading, and relevant underlying conditions.
Perform ordered treatments and procedures, including vital signs, vascular and wound assessments, sterile technique, and dressing care.
Complete histories and nursing assessments for new patients using interview, examination, and observation techniques.
Prepare a wound-patient plan of care by the second encounter and update it at each visit based on the patient's condition, response to therapy, and education needs.
Collaborate with physicians, patients, significant others, and other providers to implement and evaluate care plans.
Use available resources and referrals effectively, advocate for patients, and protect patient rights.
Communicate clearly and promptly with patients and physicians, facilitate discussion, answer questions or refer them appropriately, and ensure informed consent is obtained before non-emergency care.
Support positive working relationships, assist colleagues, serve as a role model, and demonstrate flexibility with staffing needs.
Participate in quality improvement and help implement changes to improve the work environment, processes, or patient care.
Attend staff meetings, in-services, and other WRHMC activities, or review minutes when unable to attend.
Complete mandatory education and continuing professional education to enhance wound and ostomy practice, critical thinking, and judgment.
Manage routine problems through appropriate channels and refer complex issues to management with recommendations.
Prioritize work, meet deadlines, keep documents current, delegate tasks appropriately, and provide necessary supervision.
Follow infection-control, exposure-control, equipment, emergency, safety, fire, disaster, and domestic-violence procedures.
Follow applicable ANA, community, Kent Hospital, and WRHMC standards and policies, including OSHA guidelines, Universal Precautions, and proper body mechanics.