Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse

Shepherd Center•Atlanta, GA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Shepherd Center is a world-class clinical care, research, and family support facility for people with complex conditions like spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. Ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. It is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an on-site intensive care unit, enabling earlier rehabilitation for complex patients. Shepherd Center fosters a culture of hope, humor, and hard work, offering career growth, strong relationships, leadership support, and engaging activities. The Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse is responsible for the oversight of ostomy and wound care, functioning as a consultant for patients with complex wounds, fistulas, draining wounds, and skin issues related to incontinence. This role coordinates and implements the skin, wound, and ostomy program, contributing to the professional development of unit staff within a Shared Governance model.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited WOCN program with current certification.
BLS required.
Active Georgia RN license or NLC/eNLC Multistate License.
Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse required after twelve (12) months from date of hire.
Minimum one (1) year RN experience preferred.
Basic computer skills.
Basic competencies are expected in nursing practice, patient and employee safety, infection control, performance improvement, practice innovation, professional nursing practice, standards of clinical nursing practice, and systems for patient safety.
Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, prioritization and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments and prioritizing the specific needs of the patient.
Ability to assess patient and family needs and coordinate appropriate nursing plan of care.
Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seek opportunities for improving skills.
Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
Demonstrates critical thinking skills and makes sound judgments to monitor and respond to patient needs or changes in condition.
Maintains congenial working relationships with RNs and others.
Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience with patients with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and/or behavioral health preferred.
Wound care strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and provides ongoing evaluation for an effective house-wide wound ostomy program.
Participates in the education of patient, family and staff related to wound and ostomy care and prevention of skin problems.
Collaborates with appropriate resources to update urology standards and demonstrate current knowledge of their specialty.
Ensures that the ANA scope and standards of practice and the code of ethics for nurses are the foundation for nursing practice.
Promotes high quality care, outcomes, nursing research, and evidence based practice and contributes to building and maintaining a strong environment that facilitates collaboration to achieve quality outcomes.
Utilizes a consistent, patient-focused care approach to meet patient needs and demonstrates initiatives to utilize a holistic approach to identify patient needs.
Utilizes analytical skills and advanced assessment skills necessary to assess a patient’s condition and utilize that data through the nursing process and clinical judgement to provide comprehensive care.
Collaborates and supports the plan of care as established by the interdisciplinary team and prescribes interventions to attain the expected outcomes.
Evaluates the patient’s progress toward attainment of the outcomes, working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Safely administers medications following policy/procedure Reports errors, near misses or adverse drug reactions in a timely and efficient manner.
Prepares and maintains a record of observations and care given. Documents information clearly and completely utilizing correct forms/systems and in a timely manner according to Center policy.
Assists with medical appointments and medical procedures as requested by MD.
Educates and prepares the patient/family for future self-management by facilitating patient movement from passive to an active partnership and eventual to a personal self-care expert.
Serves as a clinical preceptor for new staff/students from nursing schools performing clinical/senior practicums or shadowing experience for prospective new employees.
Ensures appropriate usage/ordering of supplies and proper charging.
Performs consistent with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.
Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
Actively participates in center-wide efforts that affect nursing practice.
Adheres to patient/family centered principles using the communication and engagement tools (OARS/AIDECT).
Establishes relationships with other RNs.
Leads workgroup to evaluate trend and causals of wound and ostomy issues.
Responsible for staging wounds on admissions and discharge.
Performs regular quality checks for the LTCP.
Participates in interdisciplinary workgroup to track and trend wound and ostomy related issues.
Monitors and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies and procedures related to area of responsibility. Identifies potential risk areas within area of responsibility and supports problem resolution process.
Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.