RN Wound Care

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority•Cherokee, NC

just now•Onsite

About The Position

The Wound Care Nurse is responsible for coordinating the Wound Care Prevention and Treatment program within Tsali Care Center. This includes, but is not limited to, preventative foot and nail care of diabetic patients, complex wound care, continence care, and ostomies. All Wound Care treatments and preventative measures will be in accordance with physician orders, facility policies, and regulatory compliance. The Wound Care Nurse provides oversight to other Nursing personnel within the Tsali Nursing service line performing wound, ostomy, nail care, preventative interventions, or other clinical treatments related to the integumentary system. The Wound Care Nurse initiates, evaluates and revises plans of care for all wound and preventative care that reflects a multidisciplinary, culturally sensitive approach to patient care. A Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nurse is a specialized Registered Nurse (RN) who assesses, treats, and manages patients with complex wounds, stomas (ostomies), and continence issues. They provide expert care, education, and emotional support to patients and families to optimize healing, manage chronic conditions, and enhance quality of life. Coordinates and provides care along the continuum with appropriate disciplines to establish and provide quality patient care. Performs ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of resident care provision in response to ostomy care and modalities of wound care management therapy and recommends change to treatment protocols as needed. Coordinates development and revision of policies and protocols as related to ostomy and wound care management in collaboration with nursing and other disciplines and medical staff based on evidence-based practices. Serves as a consultant providing expert knowledge related to ostomy and wound care management support to physician, staff, residents, families, and instructors and students of nursing and allied health programs. Tracks and supports outcomes to improve the quality of care along the continuum of care and reports findings to the Director of Nursing and Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Committee. If the Wound Nurse does not have a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) certification upon hire, certification must be obtained within one (1) year to maintain their position. The Wound Nurse must be a steward of the tribe’s resources and respect the core values of CIHA by using supplies and products on formulary with the inpatient, outpatient, and clinical wound care programs.

Requirements

Licensed nurse in the state of NC.
BLS required.
BSN in Nursing required. Will consider ASN if currently enrolled in BSN program.
Experience in Wound Care required.
Thorough knowledge of the policies and guidelines of the CIHA/Tsali Care Center and wound care systems.
Thorough knowledge of standard nursing practices, pliable OSHA/CDC mandates, specialized wound treatment and related regulatory controls.
Knowledge and expertise in wound and ostomy care.
Ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate plans of care and treatments.
Understanding of the EBCI culture, life styles, and risk factors.
Must maintain a NC driver’s license.
Judgment and initiative must be used to define parameters to maintain accuracy of work.
Resourcefulness and ingenuity are assets when responding to changing circumstances and to meet scheduled deadlines.
Decisions must be made after reviewing facts, evaluating situations, and considering best practice for patients within compliance of regulatory entities.
Documentation in the resident’s medical record must be detailed reflecting any changing plans of care, treatment regimens, and adherence to provider’s orders and current evidence-based standards for wound care.
Balancing clinical tasks and documentation of treatment(s) and plans of care during work hours is required.
High degree of accuracy in reporting health abnormalities to the patient’s primary provider and in the documentation of services provided to patients.
Adherence to all governmental regulatory guidelines ensures compliance and prevention of fraudulent activities.
Clear, consistent, and concise communication skills are a must.
Tact, courtesy and cultural sensitivity are required.
Diplomacy and fairness must be used when dealing with coworkers.
Must be able to push/pull/lift up to fifty (50) pounds.
Ability to safely position residents for treatment and wound management independently (or with assistance) to ensure safe resident handling.
Functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch with ability to use fine hand manipulation skills for procedures/functions.
Must be able to push/pull wound care cart with supplies for daily clinical duties.
Ability to cope with the volume of patients and coping with constant changes is required.
Strict adherence to OSHA/CDC guidelines and protocol to prevent transference of disease or infection.

Nice To Haves

One-year experience in long term care preferred.
Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate the Wound Care Prevention and Treatment program.
Provide preventative foot and nail care of diabetic patients.
Manage complex wound care, continence care, and ostomies.
Ensure all Wound Care treatments and preventative measures are in accordance with physician orders, facility policies, and regulatory compliance.
Provide oversight to other Nursing personnel performing wound, ostomy, nail care, and preventative interventions.
Initiate, evaluate, and revise plans of care for all wound and preventative care.
Assess, treat, and manage patients with complex wounds, stomas (ostomies), and continence issues.
Provide expert care, education, and emotional support to patients and families.
Coordinate and provide care along the continuum with appropriate disciplines.
Perform ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and documentation of resident care provision.
Recommend changes to treatment protocols as needed.
Coordinate development and revision of policies and protocols related to ostomy and wound care management.
Serve as a consultant providing expert knowledge related to ostomy and wound care management support.
Track and support outcomes to improve the quality of care.
Report findings to the Director of Nursing and Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Committee.
Maintain confidentiality of all administrative, medical, and other pertinent information.
Consistently demonstrate superior customer service skills to patients/customers.