Per Diem Registered Nurse Wound Center

Wound Care Nurse

The Wound Care Nurse is a nurse who is part of the advanced wound care team that provides wound care services to chronic and acute wound care patients. Under the supervision of the Assistant Clinical Manager, Program Manager and the Medical Director, this individual completes specific tasks (which may include measurement, assessments, photographic imaging, prepping, applying and/or removing dressings as ordered by the Physician, and HBO chamber operation). S/he possesses critical thinking skills and communicates his/her observations to the Assistant Clinical Manager or the Physician as needed. This position demands strong organizational skills and the ability to multi task. S/he works within the framework of the State Nurse Practice Act and follows all program and nursing philosophies and standards in the performance of job functions and responsibilities. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate.

Responsibilities:

• Is able to apply knowledge of wound care and wound care related tasks.
• Cross trains in different roles in the center which may include case management, prepper, wrapper, and HBO technologist.
• Wound dressings and how to apply them
• Off-loading methods
• Nutrition, blood sugar management, and pain control methods.
• Maintains high degree of infection control through hand washing and other methods. Ensures the environment is clean and promotes environmental and personal hygiene.
• In cooperation with the case manager and program physicians, ensures continuity of care for all patients.
• Implements orders as written by the Physician/Provider to provide wound care.
• Participates in clinical continuous quality improvement meetings.
• Continuously seeks out training for advancing clinical skills.
• Maintains a working knowledge of pertinent reimbursement and documentation issues Follows all Joint Commission, CMS, and UHMS standards.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of diagnostic data related to wound care.
• Actively participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement meetings and gathers data, reviews data, and assists in quality improvement of patient care.
• Ensures provision of quality care through the adherence to the plan of care in accordance with the program's clinical practice guidelines.
• Demonstrates competence in patient and family wound care education.
• Provides ordered treatments, takes vital signs, finger stick blood sugars, vascular assessments, wound assessments, clean and sterile technique, dressings, and administration of pharmaceuticals.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to use proper body mechanics; instructing others as needed.
• Assumes patient advocate role, protecting all patients' rights.
• Stocks rooms and manages supplies and orders under the supervision of the Program Manager.
• Works fast to facilitate clinic flow and is self-motivated to assist patients.
• Completes all documentation in exam room in timely manner.
• Decontaminates instruments to allow for safe transport to hospital reprocessing department during absences of medical assistants.
• Ability to prep and assist physician during debridement.
• Ability to perform advanced compression wraps.
• Ability to apply negative pressure wound therapy.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills in day-to-day activities in the program.
• Assures complete and accurate record of patient assessments, care and response to treatment and education of patients.
• Responds to internal/external customers in a highly professional manner.
• Demonstrates excellent rapport with difficult or demanding customers.
• Participates in general staff, quality improvement, and medical meetings.
• Facilitates and encourages positive communication between patients and families, the program staff, medical staff and Hospital employing the chain of command.
• Follows proper channels of communication anticipating and consistently handling daily routine problems and referring appropriate issues to Program Manager.
• Provides community education regarding the program's services as assigned.
• Communicates regularly with the Wound Nurses, Hyperbaric Technologists, Assistant Clinical Manager, Program Manager and Physicians
• Documents clearly, legibly, using approved abbreviations and electronic health records systems

Minimum Qualifications:

• Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing, Bachelor's Degree in Nursing preferred.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, Associate's Degree in Nursing required, BSN preferred
• Must have a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island.
• Certified Wound Nurse preferred (American Board of Wound Management certification preferred, Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) preferred or Certified Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse (CWOCN) preferred.
• CPR certified
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

Experience:

• Wound Care experience required
• Minimum two years clinical experience in medical surgical nursing or ambulatory or surgical services in a hospital setting.
• Previous high volume clinic experience in an outpatient setting preferred

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Exposed to ambulatory patient care environment which includes exposure to communicable diseases, however adherence to infection control policies and procedures minimizes chance of illness or injury.
• Able to complete a two-person lift, wheelchair to exam table.
• Flexible in scheduling working hours to accommodate patient care needs.
• Must have full range of body motion.
• Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision and color vision.
• Must be able to speak and hear clearly.
• Must have the ability to stand, sit, walk, bend, lean, and squat for long periods of time without hindrance.
• Must be able to maintain dexterity when pulling, pushing, and gripping carts and stretchers.
• Must be physically able to perform CPR.
• Must perform all physical job duties accurately in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruption.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None