Wound Care Nurse

Job Summary: The Wound Nurse is responsible for providing wound care to the residents. Such care must be delivered in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services designee.

Job Functions: Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Essential Job Functions:

• Evaluates, measures, and stages all pressure/vascular ulcers and wounds upon or within 24 hours of development, admission/readmission or the next schedule work day
• Coordinates and conducts wound rounds. Completes documentation in the medical record and provides a summary report to the Director of Nursing.
• Communicates the status of wounds when treatment measures require re-evaluation due to non-healing, deterioration and/or improvement.
• Performs wound treatments/surgical dressings as needed evaluate current status or as necessary to provide continuity with resident wound management.
• Makes resident rounds, observes and monitors care rendered by nursing assistants and Licensed Staff; provide staff with orientation training and on-going guidance and support related to wound and skin breakdown prevention and management and infection prevention and control measures.
• Provides ongoing and periodic individual and group staff education regarding the prevention of skin breakdown, wound treatment measures and infection control, in concert with the Nursing Management and Staff Development.
• Review MDS documentation, care plans and nursing documenting for accuracy as assigned.
• Works as part of health care team to evaluate resident needs, plan and modify care in conjunction with the Interdisciplinary Team, participates in the implementation of interventions and assists other licensed nurses and nursing assistants in an effort to provide optimal and quality care and services.

General Functions

• Make written and oral reports/recommendations
• Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating services to ensure that the resident’s total regimen of care is maintained.
• Periodically review the resident’s written discharge plan. Participate in the updating of the resident’s discharge plan as appropriate.
• Assist in the resident’s discharge plan as appropriate.

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses’ stations, resident rooms, etc.).
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to call-back during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.

Qualifications

Education

Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/RN program.

Experience

None. On-the-job training provided.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in this state.
• Must have a wound care certification
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s health.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements (With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds. Requires infrequent lifting of more weight up to 50 pounds and up to 100 pounds with assistance. Frequently pushes and pulls carts and transports residents.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.