Wound Care RN

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Responsible for the treatment and management of disorders affecting the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary (digestive, urinary, skin) systems. The scope of care typically involves the treatment of ostomies, stomas, acute and chronic wounds, and urinary and fecal incontinence. Provides a multidisciplinary approach to treatment across a continuum of care and collaborates with members of the healthcare team to provide a comprehensive plan of care. Addresses the emotional and social issues that ostomies, stomas, acute and chronic wounds, and urinary and fecal incontinence present for the patient. This includes support, guidance, and counseling, plus support and education of the families.

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. *Commits to the Kearney Regional Medical Center (KRMC) mission, vision, values and goals and consistently demonstrates our core values.

2. *Performs conservative debriding, cleaning, and bandaging of wounds according to scope of practice.

3. *Works with care team to determine if antibiotics, surgery, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or other treatments are needed.

4. *Assesses and cares for ostomies, stomas, acute and chronic wounds, draining wounds, fistulae and urinary and fecal incontinence.

5. Provides comprehensive wound management, including reducing causative factors, controlling odor, assessing nutritional needs, and providing and applying topical therapies.

6. *Educates patients and caretakers on wound care, infection and injury prevention, hygiene, skin care and pressure ulcer care and prevention for those who are bedridden or have limited mobility. Provides instruction on proper wound dressing.

7. Completes proper documentation for Medicare reimbursement and recommends orders to promote wound healing and the prevention of skin breakdown.

8. Treats and manages a variety of skin lesion and ulcerations pressure ulcers, traumatic and draining wounds, surgical incisions, and dehisced surgical wounds both inpatient and outpatient. Initiates preventative measures.

9. Treats skin reactions and prevents skin breakdown.

10. Treats and manages vascular ulcers, pressure ulcers and diabetic ulcers.

11. Designs pouch systems for draining wounds and fistulae.

12. Manages and places wound vacs.

13. Provides inpatient and outpatient care, as well as pre- and post-operative education, support and counseling for individuals who undergo surgery for colostomies, ileostomies, or urostomies.

14. Provides self-care, diet, and lifestyle education, support, guidance and counseling for the patient and their caretakers.

15. Prevents peristomal/stomal complications.

16. Assesses stoma site selection and marking to decrease long-term complications and encourage pouching system adherence. Reviews and modifies pouch system problems.

17. Addresses and prevents peristomal skin complications.

18. Provides a wide range of services that address causative factors, restorative strategies, and lifestyle/quality of life issues.

19. Selects and recommends collection devices or undergarments.

20. Provides instruction on pelvic muscles exercises.

21. Provides instruction on self-catheterization.

22. Complies with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards and universal precautions.

23. Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Current Registered Nurse licensure from the State of Nebraska or approved compact state of residence as defined by the Nebraska Nurse Practice Act required.

Must be enrolled in an accredited Wound Treatment Associate (WTA) class approved by the supervisor within 6 months of hire and completed with WTA program within 12 months of hire. If certification has already been obtained, must provide evidence of certification and/or instruction for practice area as required by state or federal standards/regulations.

OTHER CREDENTIALS / CERTIFICATIONS:

Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required. Bryan Health recognizes American Heart Association (for healthcare

professionals), American Red Cross (for healthcare professionals) and the Military Training Network.