Registered Nurse (RN)-Wound Care

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary

The Wound Care RN provides skilled nursing care to patients with acute, chronic, and complex wounds under established clinical protocols and provider-directed plans of care, including wound assessment, treatment, patient education, documentation, care coordination, and infection prevention, working closely with physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and the interdisciplinary team.

A national wound care certification is not required but is ideal. RNs without certification who have a strong desire to specialize in wound care are encouraged to apply; the organization offers precepted clinical hours to help build wound care competency toward certification.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Wound Assessment & Treatment

• Perform comprehensive wound assessments; document location, measurements, drainage, tissue appearance, odor, surrounding skin condition, and pain.
• Monitor healing progression and recognize abnormal findings, promptly reporting changes to the treating provider.
• Implement treatments per provider orders and protocols: cleanse wounds, perform dressing changes, apply prescribed dressings/products, and assist with debridement and advanced procedures within RN scope.
• Monitor patient tolerance and response to interventions.

Clinical Support & Care Coordination

• Prepare patients, treatment areas, and supplies for wound care visits; assist providers during exams and procedures; obtain vital signs and relevant history.
• Facilitate provider orders for labs, imaging, cultures, home health, DME, and specialist referrals; follow up on results and route significant findings.
• Communicate and coordinate care with physicians, NPs, home health agencies, SNFs, hospitals, pharmacies, and other care partners, including transitions of care.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete accurate, timely documentation of wound measurements, interventions, patient response, and education provided at each encounter.
• Maintain records in compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, state Board of Nursing requirements, and CMS and other payer documentation/coverage requirements.
• Participate in wound outcome monitoring, quality initiatives, clinical audits, and ongoing wound care education.

Patient & Caregiver Education

• Educate patients/caregivers on provider-directed wound care, infection warning signs, dressing-change technique, and factors affecting healing (offloading, compression, nutrition, glycemic control, mobility, etc.).
• Assess understanding of home care instructions and reinforce treatment adherence and follow-up.

Infection Prevention & Safety

• Follow standard precautions, infection prevention protocols, and requirements for cleaning, disinfection, and disposal of supplies/instruments.
• Monitor for signs of infection or systemic deterioration and escalate immediately; follow sharps/biohazard/exposure procedures.

Certification: Ideal, Not Required

A current, active national wound care certification (e.g., CWCN, CWON, CWOCN via WOCNCB; WCC via NAWCO; or CWS via ABWM) is ideal but not required to be considered for this role.

For RNs who join without certification but have a strong desire to specialize in wound care, the organization offers precepted clinical hours with a wound care nurse or provider to help build the hands-on competency and experience relevant to national wound care certification eligibility.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted RN license in the state of practice; graduate of an accredited nursing program; current BLS certification.
• Ability to maintain required facility credentials and professional requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current national wound care certification (or strong desire to specialize in wound care and build toward certification through precepted hours); previous wound care experience (diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, venous/arterial wounds, surgical or traumatic wounds).
• Experience in outpatient wound care, hospital, home health, skilled nursing, or post-acute care; EHR experience; knowledge of CMS/payer documentation expectations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong nursing assessment and documentation skills; knowledge of wound healing and infection prevention principles; excellent patient/caregiver education and communication skills; effective interdisciplinary coordination; strong organization and time management. Candidates interested in building toward certification should bring motivation and self-direction to complete precepted hours.

Physical Requirements, Work Environment & Scope of Practice

May require prolonged standing/walking, bending, positioning/transferring patients, and lifting or moving equipment/supplies (with or without reasonable accommodation), across outpatient clinics, hospitals, SNFs, assisted living, patient homes, or other approved settings. The RN does not independently diagnose, prescribe, or establish a medical treatment plan; all services are performed per the state Nurse Practice Act, organizational policy, provider orders, and applicable facility/payer requirements. This description reflects the general nature of the role and is not an exhaustive list of duties.

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