REGISTERED NURSE - Wound Center (FT - Days)

Overview

The Wound RN at Riverside Healthcare is a specialized Registered Nurse responsible for the assessment, treatment, and management of patients with acute and chronic wounds. This role requires expertise in wound care, including advanced wound management techniques, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care. The Wound RN will work closely with patients and healthcare providers to develop individualized care plans, monitor progress, and implement evidence-based practices to promote optimal healing and patient outcomes. Additionally, this role requires flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Essential Duties

Wound Assessment and Care:

• Perform comprehensive wound assessments, including evaluation of wound type, stage, and progression.
• Develop and implement individualized wound care plans based on assessment findings and patient needs.
• Apply advanced wound care techniques, including the use of dressings, topical treatments, and specialized therapies.
• Monitor and document wound healing progress, adjusting care plans as necessary to ensure effective treatment.

Patient and Family Education:

• Educate patients and their families about wound care, infection prevention, and self-management techniques.
• Provide guidance on wound care supplies, equipment, and maintenance.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Collaborate with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated and effective care.
• Communicate wound care plans, progress, and any concerns with the multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in case conferences and contribute to care planning and goal setting.

Documentation and Compliance:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of wound assessments, treatments, and patient progress.
• Ensure compliance with hospital policies, protocols, and regulatory requirements related to wound care.

Quality Improvement:

• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and provide input on best practices for wound management.
• Stay current with advancements in wound care and incorporate evidence-based practices into patient care.

Administrative Duties:

• Assist with the ordering and management of wound care supplies and equipment.
• Provide support for patient scheduling and coordination of care as needed

Non-essential Duties

• Assist with departmental projects and initiatives as assigned.
• Participate in staff training and development programs.
• Provide coverage for other nursing roles during periods of high demand or staff shortages

Responsibilities

Required Experience

• Minimum of two years of clinical nursing experience required.

Preferred Experience

• Wound care experience preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of wound care techniques, treatments, and technologies.
• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to educate and support patients and families.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficient in documentation and compliance with regulatory standards.

Required Licensure/Education

• Minimum of Associates degree in Nursing (ADN) required.
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Illinois
• *New Graduate RNs starting on or after 1/1/25 must earn Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) within 3 years of start date.

Preferred Education

• Bachelors degree in Nursing (BSN) preferred*
• Certification in Wound Care (such as CWCN, WOCN, or equivalent) preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Certification in Hyperbaric Medicine or equivalent training preferred.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is preferred.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.

Our Commitment to You:

Riverside Healthcare offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and nationally rated employee well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more so your journey at and away from work is remarkable. Our Total Rewards package includes:


Compensation

• Base compensation within the positions pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training
• Premium pay such as shift differential, on-call
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance

Benefits - .5 to 1.0 FTE

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program

Benefits - .001 to .49 FTE:

• Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements

Exposure to:

• Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets
• Video Display Terminals: Average
• Blood and Body Fluids: Diagnostic composite of patients, frequent contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus) and administration of blood does create a high risk. use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Patient diagnostic presentations do pose high risk; however, usage of protective wear, appropriate size TB mask from fit test and universal precautions reduces risk.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/doctors, coworkers, ancillary personnel and other department heads. Ability to ask for help.
• Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.
• Smell: Helpful to note presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety.
• Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, heart sounds.
• Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Twist: 4%
• Stand: 40%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 25%
• Kneel: 1%
• Lift: 10%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 1%
• Climb: 1%
• Bend: 30%
• Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

• Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.
• Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment.
• Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays).
• Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs.
• Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 30
• Twist: 15
• Stand: 60
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 10
• Kneel: 0
• Lift: 5
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 2
• Climb: 1
• Bend: 15
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated):

• Simple grasp 10 lbs.
• Normal weight - Up to 5lbs
• Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally
• Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, medical/supply dispensing cabinet, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IV's.

Leg Strength:

• Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally- (repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards:

• Inside hours: 6-40
• Outside hours: 0
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Normal Range
• Atmosphere: Odors

Special Hazards:

• Chemicals: Drugs/work with patients receiving chemotherapy-Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy direct radiation for radiology equipment; mechanical- use of Hoover lift bed scales, motorized wheelchairs, bathtub lift chair.
• Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.

Pay Range

USD $37.17 - USD $49.30 /Hr