WOUND CARE NURSE

Central Valley Specialty Hospital•Modesto, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wound Care Nurse is responsible for implementing, coordinating, monitoring, and managing the hospital wound care program. This role focuses on monitoring and improving clinical outcomes related to wound care. The position involves direct patient care for adults aged 18 and older. The Wound Care Nurse implements the wound care program, including patient care protocols, documentation tools, and the wound care formulary. They establish standards of care, competencies, policies, and procedures for effective skin and wound management for all clinical staff, including Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Nursing Assistants, Dieticians, and Medical Doctors. The role empowers clinical staff to assess wounds, recommend protocols, and advocate with physicians, while also educating staff on protocols that preserve skin integrity and promote wound healing. Responsibilities include overseeing the ulcer prevention and management program, tracking and reporting pressure ulcers, and managing the acquisition and use of specialty beds, pressure reduction devices, compression devices, and wound vacuum systems. The nurse identifies patient needs and communicates them to the physician. Additionally, the Wound Care Nurse provides basic wound care training and orientation to new nursing and therapy staff, conducts ongoing in-services, and works with vendors to maintain a cost-effective wound care formulary. Participation in performance improvement and marketing programs is also expected.

Requirements

Valid State Licensed Nurse.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities.
Dedicated to the provision of quality patient care.
Use sound judgment in decision-making.
Wound experience required.
CPR certification required.
Advanced cardiac life support certification required upon hire.
Ability to express or exchange ideas.
Ability to understand communication of others with or without adaptive devices.
Ability to perform advanced level mathematics.
Ability to read at a secondary level.
Accident/Injury Reporting – Reports any accidents, injuries, and unsafe equipment and conditions to supervisor by the end of the shift and reports any pre-existing conditions as identified by the ADA.
Unsafe Conditions – Immediately reports and corrects, if possible, unsafe conditions or equipment.
Workplace Standards – Compiles with relevant regulations, standards and policies governing safe workplace environment (OSHA, Accreditation, etc.).
Safety Techniques – Maintains current knowledge of all aspects of the facility’s safety program by attending safety-related training as mandated upon hire and thereafter as required by facility.
Modified Work – Accepts modified work assignments after receiving the physician’s release to return to work following an accident/ injury.
Follows Prescribed/Recommended Treatment – Follows the prescribed/recommended treatment given by treating physician(s) after an accident/injury.
Universal precautions will be observed in order to prevent contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Category I: Tasks involve light contact with moist body substances, non-intact skin or mucous membranes. Department procedures define and require use of minimum protective measures to perform the task.

Nice To Haves

WCC is preferred or three (3) years of experience in Wound Care Management.

Responsibilities

Implements wound care program to include patient care protocols, documentation tools and wound care formulary.
Establishes standards of care, competencies, policies and procedures in quality, cost-efficient, and effective skin care wound management for all clinical staff.
Empowers all clinical staff to effectively assess wounds, recommend appropriate protocols, and advocates with physicians.
Educates staff on protocols that preserve integrity of the skin and promote wound healing.
Oversees the ulcer prevention and management program including tracking and reporting pressure ulcers.
Manages the acquisition and appropriate use of specialty beds and other pressure reduction devices, compression devices and wound vacuum systems.
Identifies patient’s needs and communicates that need to the patient’s physician.
Provides basic wound care training and orientation to all new nursing and therapy staff on hire; provides ongoing in-services and training relating to skin and wound care.
Works with vendors to maintain cost effective wound care formulary.
Participates in performance improvement activities.
Participates in marketing programs as needed.
Initiates an on-going systematic assessment of the patient wounds through interview, observation, and physical examination.
Provides, plans, coordinates or manages nursing care, nursing services, and health education to patients/residents.
Interprets assessment data and information to develop a nursing care plan which contains problem identification, nursing diagnosis, nursing orders, approaches, interventions, short/long term goals, and discharge planning.
Assures that medical orders are transcribed and processed accurately, and integrates the medical care plan into the provision of nursing care.
Assures that medication/I.V. administration is correct and according to the established nursing policies and procedures.
Provides for personal and environmental safety in accordance with hospital and nursing policies and procedures.
Demonstrates skills in handling emergency and life-threatening situations.
Assures that documents in the medical record are complete, factual, accurate and timely.
Performs a complete head-t—toe assessment of each assigned patient per shift using proper documentation tools.
Acts promptly on changes in patient condition, utilizing proper documentation tools.
Performs basic ventilator management and trouble-shooting.
Provides direction and leadership in patient care to assigned personnel.
Prioritizes activities and plans for effective use of time for patient needs.
Communicates the plan of nursing care for each patient through reports, conferences, rounds, and patient care records.
Demonstrates responsibility for the teaching of nursing assistants in areas of new techniques, policies, and procedures.
Participates in the quality improvement activities of nursing.
Communicates identified learning needs of self and others to the DON.
Adheres to established policies and procedures of the hospital and Nursing Department.
Actively participates on nursing committees.
Evaluates own performance and seeks opportunities for growth and expansion of skills.
Takes initiative in upgrading and maintaining skills necessary to provide quality care to patients and leadership to assigned staff.
Acquires continuing education sufficient to maintain licensure and certification.
Maintains required competencies.
Completes assigned program tracks assigned by DON/DSD.
Completes appropriate level of Clinical Advancement within established timeframes.
Assumes responsibility for maintain/enhancing physical health and alleviating stress.
Demonstrates competency in a variety of nursing skills as demonstrated and evaluated on at least an annual basis.
Displays a “customer service” attitude toward patients, visitors, and other staff members at all times.
Abides by all safety, infection control, and other guidelines as required.
Promotes an ethic of continuous quality improvement in all matters associated with the position, and documents specific quality improvement implementation.
Performs all other tasks and duties as may be assigned.
Provides a level of competency to treat patients 18 and older.
Dresses and presents self in a professional manner at all times.
Wears hospital issued nametag at all times while on duty.
Conducts self ethically at all times.
Upholds all service standards.