POSITION OVERVIEW:

Collaborates with healthcare providers to direct and coordinate comprehensive care for patients with wounds, ostomies, fistulas, and complex skin integrity issues. The Wound/Ostomy Nurse will serve the inpatient, swing bed and outpatient areas. Plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes, reducing hospital-acquired conditions, and enhancing patient dignity and comfort. Independently assess patient and family learning needs and provide education accordingly.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of accredited school of nursing. Current Iowa license (RN).
• Minimum 2 years of RN experience
• Wound and ostomy experience preferred.
• Must have willingness to complete an accredited CWON Nursing Education Program & certification within 3 years.
• BCLS, ACLS as indicated by area of responsibility.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reports to Perioperative Manager and Perioperative Assistant Manager

DIRECT REPORTS:

None

POSITION-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Wound Care:

• Assess and manage acute and chronic wounds (e.g., pressure ulcers, surgical wounds, diabetic
  ulcers).
• Recommend advanced wound care products and therapies.
• Monitor healing and prevent complications.
• Implement plans to prevent pressure ulcers and other wound developments.
• Under the direction of a designated wound care provider and in accordance with provider orders, performs appropriate debridement of devitalized tissue.
• Provides consultation for individuals with altered skin integrity to develop individualized plans of care and attain expected outcomes.
• Provides guidance to staff in implementing protocols to identify, control, or eliminate etiologic factors for skin breakdown, including selection of appropriate support surfaces.
• Validates pressure ulcer data collection for nursing quality indicators.

Ostomy Care:

• Assists providers with selecting optimal stoma sites preoperatively to promote post-operative independence.
• Provides preoperative and postoperative education to patients (and their families) who are undergoing ostomy surgery, with consideration of the need for physical and psychological adaptation.
• Assess the stoma and stoma functioning and initiates appropriate procedures for stoma care.
• Provides appropriate educational information to patients, including postoperative and discharge instructions about care, referrals, and supply needs.
• Serves as a resource for patients after discharge through telephone consultation or outpatient services.

Education & Consultation:

• Educate patients, families, and staff on wound, ostomy, and continence care.
• Serve as a consultant to interdisciplinary teams.
• Participate in staff development and policy creation.

Performs the following nursing functions:

• Evaluate patient’s electronic medical record.
• Perform patient assessment.
• Evaluate vital signs.
• Perform skin preparation of wound site and patient draping if applicable.
• Assist provider as needed.
• Document on the patient’s medical record.
• Label and prepare specimens for pathology.
• Maintain asepsis during procedure.
• Assist in cleaning procedure rooms and instruments as needed.
• Anticipates need for supplies based on knowledge of patient, procedure being performed, and provider preference.
• Works with manager to evaluate and budget for ostomy and skin care products and supplies.
• Ability to work independently and acts as liaison between providers, care team, the patient, and the family. Serves as patient advocate, as necessary.
• Demonstrates the ability to use critical thinking skills in prioritization, delegation, decision making, and practicing safety.
• Attends all required meetings and in-services.
• Other duties as necessary.

Staff Education

• Responsible for providing staff training (face-to-face, handouts, etc.) on best practices for skin care and wound and ostomy management.
• Will complete staff competencies and observations of wound and ostomy care management and provide feedback.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Works in a well-illuminated, climate-controlled environment.
• May come in contact with hazardous chemical or treatment modalities.
• Possibility exists of exposure to communicable diseases.
• Involvement in inpatient care may result in unavoidable work-related illness or injury.
• Work environment is comfortable, with minimal exposure to physical hazards.
• Moderate to loud noise environment when machines/equipment in use.
• Involvement in checking in/moving of supplies may result in unavoidable work-related injury.
• Must be constantly alert for patient/family emergency situations.