Wound Care Specialist - Casual

UPMC St. Margaret Hospital is seeking a Casual Wound Care Specialist to join our dedicated care team. This role offers variable 8‑hour daylight shifts, including weekday and weekend coverage, providing flexibility while supporting patients across the hospital.

The Wound Care Specialist plays a critical role in delivering expert, evidence‑based care to patients with complex wounds, ostomies, and skin integrity needs. In this position, you will provide direct patient care throughout the hospital, collaborating closely with bedside nurses, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to assess wounds, develop treatment plans, and support optimal healing outcomes. You will also serve as a clinical resource by providing education and hands‑on teaching to patients, families, and staff on wound prevention, treatment techniques, and ostomy management.

The ideal candidate will have prior wound care experience, with certifications such as WOC, WTA, or OCA preferred (but not required). Applicants must have a minimum of three years of nursing experience to be considered. This is an excellent opportunity for a clinically knowledgeable nurse who is passionate about wound care, patient education, and improving quality of life for patients through specialized care.

This position is posted to reflect the qualifications and title of a Wound Care Specialist, the final candidate will be placed in the appropriate title and salary based on experience and education. 

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient within an episode of care. Maintains ongoing follow-up evaluation for appropriate ostomy and/or skin care patients with needs after discharge from the hospital to provide for continuity of care. Incorporates national professional organizations (NPUAP) and (WOCN) as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient quality, safety and satisfaction in daily work Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patient and their families as well colleagues.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing self and others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses, new staff, medical students and residents. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations within the department and with other health care personnel. Conducts in-services and formal lectures for nursing units and other members of the Health care team Contributes to the professional development of the unit base skin care committee by participation in clinical development of the unit representatives. Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement. Applies evidence based practice aspect of professional practice. Participates in product evaluation for ostomy and skin care needs for the health system to ensure cost effective quality patient care.
• Builds and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace. Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities.
• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice by serving as a recognized leader in clinical expertise , teacher, specialized resource nurse, and /or evidence based practice in the nursing care of patients with alterations in skin integrity, wounds, ostomies, fistulas and /or incontinence. Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the healthcare team and participates in the peer review process. Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care of applicable patients within the WOCN department and the Nursing department at large Serves on Teams and leads successful teams as a part of daily Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skill within the context of Relationship Based Care Actively participates in shared governance at department level and serves on or acts as a resource to hospital-wide councils
• Participates in continuous learning within the specialty Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires. Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices. Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.
• Applies the Nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates goal and a plan of care for applicable patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Practices solid communication skills and is able to articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care. Communicates the plan of care to the nursing staff, physicians, patient and family, and other members of the health care team as applicable. Documentation of patient care and plan of care is complete and promotes communication between caregivers.
• Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, psychological and spiritual issues for the patient within an episode of care. Maintains ongoing follow-up evaluation for appropriate ostomy and/or skin care patients with needs after discharge from the hospital to provide for continuity of care. Incorporates national professional organizations (NPUAP) and (WOCN) as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient quality, safety and satisfaction in daily work. Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patient and their families as well colleagues.
• Serves as a role model of professional nursing practice by serving as a recognized leader in clinical expertise , teacher, specialized resource nurse, and /or evidence based practice in the nursing care of patients with alterations in skin integrity, wounds, ostomies, fistulas and /or incontinence. Consistently gives appropriate feedback to all members of the healthcare team and participates in the peer review process. Promotes change that enhances the quality of patient care of applicable patients within the WOCN department and the Nursing department at large. Serves on Teams and leads successful teams as a part of daily. Demonstrates highly developed clinical assessment and analytical skill within the context of Relationship Based Care. Actively participates in shared governance at department level and serves on or acts as a resource to hospital-wide councils
• Builds and mends relationships among colleagues within the framework of a healthy workplace. Role models keen cultural awareness including preventing and addressing horizontal violence and impairment. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life through prioritization and delegation of responsibilities.
• Applies the Nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates goal and a plan of care for applicable patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Practices solid communication skills and is able to articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care. Communicates the plan of care to the nursing staff, physicians, patient and family, and other members of the health care team as applicable. Documentation of patient care and plan of care is complete and promotes communication between caregivers.
• Demonstrates a passion for developing self and others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses, new staff, medical students and residents. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations within the department and with other health care personnel. Conducts in-services and formal lectures for nursing units and other members of the Health care team. Contributes to the professional development of the unit base skin care committee by participation in clinical development of the unit representatives. Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement. Applies evidence based practice aspect of professional practice. Participates in product evaluation for ostomy and skin care needs for the health system to ensure cost effective quality patient care.
• Participates in continuous learning within the specialty. Demonstrates a passion for developing others, enthusiastically and expertly precepts students, graduate nurses and new hires. Analyzes clinical and behavioral situations, identifying learning opportunities to improve patient care practices. Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement. Supports continuous learning in the clinical area by sharing research, materials from professional organizations, presenting on the unit, supporting journal clubs, etc.