RN - Wound Care

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION

The staff RN under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisor will perform the primary function of an RN in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the care of patients in the Wound Center. This person will be responsible for meeting the established Wound Care Standards of Nursing Practice in the management of all assigned patients. Assist panel physicians with the development and implementation of wound treatment plans and participate in performance improvement review activities. The staff RN is responsible for administering hyperbaric oxygen therapy and diagnostic testing to patients within the Wound Center under the supervision of a hyperbaric physician. All therapeutic and diagnostic modalities will be ordered by the hyperbaric physician. The staff RN will act within the guidelines of federal and state laws, JCAHO Standards, professional and ethical practice.

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Duty 1: Readily recognize and assess initial alterations in the patient's body systems and verbalize the clinical information to other members of the wound center's team.

Duty 2: Record clinical information in an orderly fashion, and communicate pertinent information with the assigned panel physician and all other health care team members.

Duty 3: Photograph, assess, and measure all wounds accurately and in accordance with policy. Perform hyperbaric treatments and monitor patient at all times while receiving therapy. Assess patient pre/intra/post hyperbaric treatment and follow all safety guidelines, and will perform checks on backup air and oxygen supplies on a daily basis.

Duty 4: Will continually assess compliance to the clinical pathway and be instrumental in bringing to the attention of the panel physician or health care team missing components that will slow the wound healing process

Duty 5: Collaborate with the panel physician to develop a plan of care based on clinical assessment data as well as develop and implement a teaching plan

Duty 6: Prioritize and formulate desired outcomes specific to the patient's problems and wound center protocols.

Duty 7: Assist physician with wound care as well as implement wound care and HBO protocols when clinically indicated.

Duty 8: In professional collaboration with the panel physician and other health care team members, revise the plan of care and continuously reassess and evaluate until desired outcome is obtained.

Duty 9: Participate in all patients reviews to ensure all recommendations to the plan of care are activated in the physician's orders.

Duty10: Will coordinate office visits, pre-procedure work-ups and patient education including the benefits, risks, contraindications and safety issues of hyperbaric oxygen therapy before treatment is initiated with multidiscipline team within the wound center.

Duty 11: Be prepared for each clinic to enable accurate and complete updates to the physician on schedule. Additionally will review the super bill and ensure that all orders and charges are initiated and recorded accurately and complete precertification tasks.

Duty 12: Triage phone calls that come into the wound center and assist the office coordinator with scheduling

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Current state licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN)
• Must have a minimum of 2 years of floor nursing experience
• Positive service-oriented interpersonal and communication skills required
• Individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient served on his/her assigned unit/ department. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span. Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the area's policies and procedures within the scope of RN Licensure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Wound Care experience preferred.
• HBO experience preferred.
• ACLS, BCLS and PALS preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position requires a full range of body motion with intermittent activities in walking, sitting, lifting, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting and standing. The associate will be required to lift 50 pounds or more. This position requires individuals to lift work above the Shoulder. The associate must have corrected vision and hearing in the normal range. Individual must have excellent verbal communication skills to perform daily tasks.

This position is classified at risk for possible occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (HBV) HIV, etc.) Maximum exposure in regard to universal precautions.