RN Wound Care Lead Full-Time Days (10-Hour Shift)

RN Wound Care Lead Full-Time Days (10-Hour Shift)

RN Wound Care Lead will serve as a clinical resource to MLKCH staff on issues pertaining to patients with wounds, pressure ulcers, ostomies, fistulas and incontinence. Supervise wound care team members and educate hospital staff regarding the management of wounds and the prevention of nosocomial pressure injuries. Provide direct patient care for evaluation and education purposes. Establish and maintain practice standards and ensure adherence to policies and procedures related directly to caring for patients with pressure injuries.

Demonstrates a high degree of professional competence in a specialized field of nursing and utilizes advanced theoretical and empirical knowledge and a scientific approach to problem solving. Establish standards for patient care and evaluates interventions to improve care. Coordinate the investigation on improvement of nursing care when hospital acquired pressure injuries occur and lead in developing action plans to prevent future occurrences.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: consultation, education, ostomy/wound supply recommendations, and ostomy counseling as indicated and recommendation of referrals to community health agencies for post-hospitalization care. Additional responsibilities include program development and implementation, development/revision of standards and guidelines, selection and usage oversight of wound, ostomy, and skin care supplies and sleep surfaces in Materials Management, and active participation in Quality Improvement projects. Hospital wide, population based rather than unit based.

Essential duties and responsibilities include: managing and directing the Wound Care staff team activities and assisting in interviewing process; leading in the development, facilitation, and coordination of a cost effective wound care/ostomy care program; developing evidence based protocols & practice Standards for managing patients with wound/ostomy and incontinence care needs; monitoring patient outcomes on an ongoing basis; working with the Clinical Education department on the development of education programs specific to Wound/Ostomy /Continence patient care for staff and inpatient groups; developing evidence based treatment plans according to current wound care protocols; communicating information to the unit managers when there is a deviation from standard protocols and to key stakeholders when reportable hospital acquired pressure injuries occur; advising physicians on the status of patient's wounds and making recommendations for patients requiring debridement procedures are identified; collaborating with the MLKCH dietary team to identify patients with nutritional deficiencies and assist in solving nutrition problems; performing documentation audits to ensure wound care tasks are met and to promote compliance to the established protocols; developing standardization of documentation for the wound care team; developing a guideline for prioritization of consults and follow-up visits; consulting on new ostomy patients and ostomy patients experiencing peristomal complication; providing leadership to the Wound Care Committee to ensure hospital wide initiatives and activities are completed; ensuring prevalence studies are completed timely, effectively, and monitoring utilization of support surfaces; maintaining data and statistical reports and reports out to key committees on an ongoing basis, as requested; participating in Quality Improvement Plans with the assistance of the Quality Department; acting as a resource person to nursing staff and wound care team, as needed; assuming responsibility to maintain and upgrade professional knowledge and skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service education programs and participating in multi-disciplinary patient centered case conferences, as appropriate; demonstrating the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his/her assigned visit; and performing other duties as assigned.

Position requirements include: Bachelor of Sciences degree in nursing (individuals hired without a BSN will be required to complete a degree program within 2 years of their hire date); minimum two years experience in wound care; minimum one year acute care nursing experience; Certified Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (CWOCN); or Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) required within 2 years of hire date; current California RN license; and current BLS card.