Registered Nurse (RN) - Wound Care (Days)

The RN Wound Care performs the primary function of an RN and a Case Manager in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients in the Advanced Wound Care Center. Capable of making independent decisions in the majority of situations and is therefore able to direct patient care that is provided by others. Is responsible for meeting the established Center Standards of Nursing Practice in the management of all assigned patients. Serves as a resource to nurses in the Clinical Nurse I position and students. Assist Wound Center Physicians with the development and implementation of wound treatment plans and participates in performance improvement review activities. Acts within the guidelines of federal and state laws, JCAHO Standards and professional and ethical practice.


Education
See License/Certification Requirements

Experience
Two years of related experience. Requires working knowledge of specialized practices, equipment, and procedures.

Licenses & Certifications
*Georgia Licensed Practical Nurse or Multistate Nursing License

Qualifications
*Minimum of 2 years med-surg experience. Wound Care experience preferred, not required.

Area of Responsibilities
** Evaluation: Evaluates and notes the individual patient's response to nursing care defined in the nursing care plan and medical records. Participates in the evaluation of nursing care given to groups of patients. Identifies strengths and weaknesses of nursing care systems.
** Leadership: Supports standards of nursing care through adherence to existing policies and procedures. Supervises care given by nonprofessional personnel, providing instruction as needed. Regularly attends unit conferences and makes recommendations for improvement in patient care via the patient care conference and unit conference. Participates in peer review as appropriate to the unit and Department of Nursing.
** Nursing care plan: Uses assessment information to develop a care plan before the end of duty time that communicates enough information for incoming personnel to adequately care for the patient. Reviews and develops care plans for assigned patients. Includes the patient and his or her family in planning care, establishing priorities, and setting goals.
** Plan implementation: Uses care plans as a basis for providing safe and therapeutic care to patients. Consistently follows established standards, policies, and procedures in providing nursing care. Accepts accountability for clinical care of assigned patients, including supervision of nonprofessional personnel. Communicates with the patient and his or her family and other members of the health care team in carrying out the goals of the care plan. Indicates an understanding of the roles of other health-care team members in patient care and incorporates their input into the care plan. Performs competently those technical skills considered basic to the type of care given on that unit. Identifies patient teaching needs and provides elementary instructions for the patient and his or her family. Notes discharge planning elements and incorporates these in care plans, demonstrating an awareness of community care available after discharge. Responds appropriately in urgent and/or emergency situations.
**Patient assessment: Obtains and documents nursing history from the patient and/or significant other that is comprehensive of present condition and prior problems. Performs basic assessment of the patient, indicating adequate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Records vital signs, notes changes, and pursues more-specific investigation as needed. Makes pertinent observation, using language that correctly describes body parts and functions, and draws logical conclusions which direct formation of nursing care plan. Identifies abnormal diagnostic data and shows a fundamental understanding of its implications by reporting information to the physician and others caring for the patient, and by incorporating information in the nursing care plan.
** Education: Assumes responsibility for professional growth by current reading and attendance at educational programs and unit conference. Assists in teaching individual patients and patients in groups in established programs. Seeks guidance when encountering nursing procedures and responsibilities that have not been mastered.

Compliance Statement
Employee performs within the prescribed limits of Tanner Health System's Ethics and Compliance program. Is responsible to detect, observe, and report compliance variances to their immediate supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the Hotline.

Education
See License/Certification Requirements

Experience
Two years of related experience. Requires working knowledge of specialized practices, equipment, and procedures.

Licenses & Certifications
*Georgia Licensed Practical Nurse or Multistate Nursing License

Supervision
*Assigns and directs work of all employees in an area when designated as Case Manager. May supervise up to 5 employees per shift. Instructs new employees and corrects their work as an active participant in staff development.

Qualifications
*Minimum of 2 years med-surg experience. Wound Care experience preferred, not required.


Definitions
*The RN Wound Care performs the primary function of an RN and a Case Manager in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating the care of patients in the Advanced Wound Care Center. Capable of making independent decisions in the majority of situations and is therefore able to direct patient care that is provided by others. Is responsible for meeting the established Center Standards of Nursing Practice in the management of all assigned patients. Serves as a resource to nurses in the Clinical Nurse I position and students. Assist Wound Center Physicians with the development and implementation of wound treatment plans and participates in performance improvement review activities. Acts within the guidelines of federal and state laws, JCAHO Standards and professional and ethical practice.

Contact With Others
Requires frequent contact with many persons at different levels inside and outside of the organization to carry out organization policies and programs and obtain willing acceptance, consent, or action.

Effect Of Error
Probable errors not easily detected and may adversely affect external as well as internal relationships and may result in major expenditures for equipment, materials, or procedures detrimental to the patient's welfare or the organization's interest. Work is subject to general review only and requires considerable accuracy and responsibility. Continually works with reports, records, plans, and programs of a major functional area of the organization where integrity is required to safeguard the organization's position. Duties may involve the preparation of data on which the administration bases important decisions and are highly confidential.

Supervisory Responsibility
Has limited supervision over a large section of employees (15 up), i.e. assigns and directs their work; instructs new employees and corrects results, may discuss with supervisor, but has no authority over job content or personnel. Team governance where the Members evaluate, interview, and recommend personnel actions.

Mental Demands
Work involves a variety of complex problems to be solved under general organization policies. Ingenuity and judgment are required to review facts, plan work, estimate costs, and deal with factors not easily evaluated, interpret results, draw conclusions, and take or recommend action. Solutions to problems often require coordination with other departments.


Physical Effort
Moderate physical effort - Lifts, carries, or handles lightweight (1 to 25 lbs.) materials or equipment for about half of the day. Very occasional physical effort with medium weight objects (25- 60 lbs.). Office or laboratory work requires close visual effort and concentration more than half of day. Works in reaching or strained positions for less than half of day.

Working Conditions
Considerable - (About 75% of the day) Involved in exposure to dirt, odors, noise, or some work is performed with exposure to temperature/weather extremes/occupational risk and probability of coming into contact with blood borne pathogens, other potentially infectious diseases, or biomedical/bio-hazardous materials.

Working Conditions Aspects For Immunizations
*Performs tasks involving contact with blood, blood-contaminated body fluids, other body fluids, or sharps (needles)

Physical Aspects

Frequently (at least 3 times a week)
*Bending
*Typing
*Manual Dexterity -- pinching with fingers, etc.
*Feeling (Touch) -- determining temperature, texture, by touching
*Hearing
*Reaching -- above shoulder
*Reaching -- below shoulder
*Visual
*Color Vision
*Speaking
*Standing
*Balancing
*Walking
*Lifting up To 25 lbs.
*Lifting 25 To 60 lbs.
*Handling -- seizing, holding, grasping
*Carrying
*Kneeling
*Squatting
*Smelling
*Pushing/Pulling -- up To 25 lbs.
*Pushing/Pulling -- 25 To 60 lbs.

Occasionally (at least once a month)
*Crawling
*Running - In response To an emergency
*Lifting over 60 lbs.
*N95 Respirator usage (PPE)
*Hazmat suit usage (PPE)
*Pushing/Pulling -- over 60 lbs.