Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse

Tenet Healthcare•Detroit, MI

About The Position

DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital seeks a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) to serve, under general supervision, as a clinical resource and consultant in the acute and rehabilitative care of patients with selected gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary disorders. These include complex draining wounds, ostomies, lower-extremity ulcers, fistulas, dermal ulcers, tubes, and continence disorders. The role encompasses the full scope of WOC nursing practice, including education, counseling, research, and administration. The nurse provides perioperative ostomy education and care planning, assists with stoma-site selection when possible, and supports patients and families with ostomy management and discharge planning. The WOCN also consults with and assists nursing staff and other departments in wound, ostomy, continence, and skin management; educates staff; contributes to interdisciplinary care, research, quality analysis, and protocol development; and recommends evidence-based, cost-effective supplies and equipment. The position collaborates with Advanced Practice Nurses on wound care and its delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nursing.
Graduation from an accredited Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse Education Program.
Certification as a WOCN.
Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Michigan.
At least 3–5 years of related clinical experience.

Responsibilities

Educate patients undergoing ostomy surgery and assess them perioperatively to develop plans supporting physical, physiological, and social adaptation.
Determine an appropriate stoma placement site preoperatively when possible.
Educate and counsel patients and family members on perioperative ostomy care and management, and collaborate with Clinical Resource Management on discharge planning.
Provide ostomy patients with treatment and options for ostomy-care management issues.
Assess selected ostomy patients returning to the hospital, including their at-home ostomy care, knowledge, management challenges, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Provide consultation, treatment options, and direct assistance to nursing staff and ancillary departments in managing ostomies, dermal ulcers, wounds, fistulas, lower-extremity ulcers, and skin problems related to fecal and urinary incontinence.
Provide ongoing staff education to maintain current knowledge and competence in ostomy care and wound and skin management.
Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, committees, and meetings that promote high-quality, cost-effective patient care.
Assist with and participate in nursing education activities as needed.
Participate in data collection and analysis for research involving wounds, ostomies, and incontinence.
Collect pressure-ulcer data, complete quarterly analyses of wound-care problems, recommend changes when necessary, and monitor patient outcomes.
Participate in developing and implementing evidence-based procedures and protocols for patients with bladder or bowel disorders requiring ostomy, impaired or altered skin integrity, or conditions requiring incontinence management and containment.
Recommend standards for selecting cost-effective wound, ostomy, and continence supplies and equipment, using scientific evidence, product evaluations, and cost-effectiveness comparisons.
Collaborate with Advanced Practice Nurses on all aspects of wound care and wound-care delivery services.