Wound Nurse - North Liberty Hospital

University of Iowa•Iowa City, IA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as a clinical expert and care coordinator for a specific patient population interfacing with administrative, clinical nursing staff, physicians and patients/families. This role involves direct nursing care, coordination of patient care between multiple disciplines, and acting as a clinical resource. The position also participates in the development and implementation of managed care programs, operates autonomously in communicating with the healthcare team, and revises patient care regimes via telephone or telemedicine. It provides leadership for direct patient care programs, participates in decision-making at various levels, and contributes to financial management activities. The role also involves implementing regulatory standards, designing and implementing patient/family health education, and facilitating learning for external agencies and other healthcare professionals. Additionally, it supports staff education, facilitates educational experiences for students, and incorporates roles of patient care provider, advocate, consultant, educator, researcher, and quality manager. The position also participates in quality assessment and improvement programs and uses nursing research to improve clinical practice. It requires maintaining clinical expertise, developing management and consultant skills, adhering to professional and legal standards, and maintaining confidentiality. The role specifically focuses on wound and ostomy patients, providing specialized health education and serving as an educational and clinical resource in this area. It also involves leading efforts to improve nursing quality and collaborating on practice changes. The position is 100% time, 40 hours per week, with flexible scheduling options (four 10-hour shifts or five 8-hour shifts). It is located at North Liberty Hospital and is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in Nursing required.
Current license to practice nursing.
Active wound certification (WOCNCB) is required or must be attained within 6 months of employment.
A minimum of 3 year recent RN experience on a unit caring for wound and ostomy patients
Demonstrated expertise in wound and ostomy care of practice
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
Experience with patient education

Responsibilities

Collaborates with nursing, medical staff and other health professionals in the development and review of standards and in planning, implementing and evaluating patient care for a specific patient population with regard to the condition and age of the patient. Provides direct nursing care when necessary. Follows universal precautions.
Independently coordinates and facilitates patient care between multiple disciplines within both the confines of UI Health Care and the local communities (including home health agencies, referring physicians and other community support services). Facilitates continuity of care.
Coordinates patient care to better utilize supportive services through patient visit and possible admission, pre-schedules testing, follows up with test results to both patient and physician, obtains medical history, coordinates follow up visit appointment, provides medication, rehab. teaching, etc. Participate in the ongoing management of the patient to facilitate discharge of patient in a timely manner.
Acts as a clinical resource or consultant for specific patient population with regard to the condition and age of the patients.
Participates in development and implementation of managed care programs for a specific patient population.
Operates autonomously in communicating with members of the health care team directing patient care and providing continuity of care across settings throughout the phases of care.
Autonomously communicates with referring physician.
Revises patient care regime via the telephone or telemedicine within protocols developed collaboratively. Manages and supports Telephone Triage.
Provides leadership for direct patient care programs in area of specialization collaborating with unit-based nurse management team(s).
Participates in decision-making process at unit/division/department level of issues that impact clinical practice.
Participates in/provides leadership for divisional, departmental and/or intra institutional and community committees and projects.
Provides input into financial management activities including operational budgetary decisions and cost containment.
Participates in the ongoing implementation of current regulatory standards in order to meet state and national agency accreditation.
Performs other special projects and tasks as assigned.
Design and implement patient/family health education activities for the patient population recognizing individualized need.
Facilitates learning and provides consultation to those in external agencies, communities and to other health care professionals.
Supports implementation and evaluation of staff education and orientation programs, coordinating and presenting those related to specialty practice.
Facilitates the educational experience for health care students and monitors the care delivered.
Incorporates the role of patient care provider, advocate (patient, family, and health care professional), consultant, educator, researcher and quality manager.
Participates in the development and implementation of division/unit quality assessment and improvement program using appropriate risk and quality management data.
Uses relevant nursing research to improve clinical practice and investigate nursing care problems related to a specific patient population.
Participates in development and conduct of research activities initiated through recognized need in area of specialty and as directed with other disciplines.
Interacts with staff, patients, medical staff, peers, and others in a professional and cooperative manner.
Assumes responsibility for maintaining clinical expertise consistent with patient population requirements and current nursing and medical practice.
Develops management and consultant skills consistent with position responsibilities.
Adheres to professional and legal standards of nursing practice.
Maintains confidentiality of patient and staff information.
Demonstrates the core values of service leadership: respect, communication, accountability, integrity, and compassion.
Designs and implement patient/family health education activities for the wound ostomy patient population recognizing individualized need.
Serves as an educational and clinical resource to patients, families and staff (supports patient/family/staff educational activities).
Provides specialized health education to patients and health profession students and residents applicable to patients in wound ostomy.
Supports implementation and evaluation of staff education and orientation programs, coordinating and presenting those related to wound ostomy practice.
Facilitates the educational experience for health care students and monitors the care delivered.
Communicates detailed, complex medical information to a variety of audiences.
Follows and applies policies and meet documentation requirements. Participates in Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives. Reports variances and work to address them. Recommends policies and/or procedures enhancements that address new and improved care processes specific to pressure injury prevention, MARSI and MASD.
Participates in the development and implementation of division/unit quality assessment and improvement program using appropriate risk and quality management data.
Uses relevant nursing research to improve clinical practice and investigate nursing care problems related to the wound ostomy patient population.
Participates in development and conduct research activities related to wound ostomy.
Applies expertise in wound ostomy to lead efforts to improve nursing quality and other services that support the practice of nursing.
Leads or participates in evidence-based projects within wound ostomy and collaborate with the appropriate CPL or NPL staff member to implement practice changes.