Registered Nurse (RN) - Wound Care PRN - Outpatient

About This Role

This Registered Nurse position focuses on wound, ostomy, and continence care in an outpatient setting, providing acute and rehabilitative care for patients with disorders of the GI, GU, and Integumentary systems. The role involves acting as a clinical expert and consultant to physicians and staff, delivering comprehensive patient care, and supporting service excellence goals within a shared governance model.

Responsibilities

• Act as a consultant to the physician, providing evaluations of patients and developing individualized, evidence-based plans of care that address wounds, fistulas, ostomies, and continence issues at the specialist level
• Respond to physician consult requests by writing orders within the WOCN scope of practice and standing orders for other nurses to follow
• Determine the type and frequency of wound/ostomy care provided to the patient using expert judgment, including modifications as the patient’s condition changes
• Upon receiving physician order for consult, mark patients for ostomy surgery, selecting the best and alternative sites for the surgeon’s consideration
• Provide education to the patient and family pre- and post-op and guidance for psychosocial, sexual, and body image adaptation to promote optimal client outcomes
• Perform the Nursing Process (assessment; diagnosis; identification of outcomes; planning; implementation and evaluation) in the performance of clinical care using evidence-based practice and analytical/critical thinking
• Coordinate care through effective partnerships, ensuring care is individualized and central to achieving optimal patient care outcomes
• Provide relationship-based patient-centered care by partnering with the patient and significant others using comprehensive hand-off communication processes
• Engage in interdisciplinary evaluation and communication (i.e., unit rounds, case reviews, peer review, etc.)
• Provide just-in-time and planned patient teaching, keeping the patient informed using appropriate communication tools and making the patient’s goals the focus of the plan of care
• Practice using current clinical practice standards with a focus on safety and quality
• When performing duties in outpatient Wound Care and Hyperbaric Unit:
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Healing Strategies for wound care and the role of HBO therapy, and the different approved clinical indications and treatment protocols for HBO treatment
• Deliver care to the patient immediately prior to, during, and immediately following the HBO treatment that is consistent with existing policies and Healing Strategies within his/her scope of practice
• Document all aspects of patient care during HBO treatment
• Monitor and ensure the proper delivery of treatment gas as ordered
• Monitor patients continually during treatments for symptoms of oxygen intolerance, claustrophobia, hypoglycemic reactions, decompression sickness, or any other adverse reaction to HBO treatments
• Under the direction of the program manager or designee, appropriately intervene in the event of an adverse reaction and follow established protocols
• Demonstrate competence in reinforcing age-specific patient and family education on common topics related to HBO therapy and related underlying disease processes
• Demonstrate competence in performing ordered treatments including but not limited to vital signs, blood sugars, and emergency procedures, consistent with existing policies and within his/her scope of practice
• Document required elements of each treatment in a clear, concise manner that includes a description of the chamber settings, duration of treatment, patient response to the procedure, and any other relevant observations
• Demonstrate and apply basic knowledge about HBOT chamber operations to ensure efficacy of treatment and safety of the patient and those in the immediate area
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic physiological principles/concepts of the HBO treatment and incorporate them into the treatment process
• Operate controls to pressurize and depressurize the chamber according to prescribed policies for clinical indications and physician orders
• Maintain accurate logs and records of the time, pressures, depths, etc. of chamber operations according to established protocols
• Perform maintenance of the hyperbaric chamber(s) and related support systems under the guidance of the Program Director/Safety Coordinator
• Clean chamber following each treatment, according to recommendations of manufacturer, and in accordance with established facility infection control policies
• Maintain emergency equipment and supplies located in the HBO area
• Document equipment checks as required by established policies
• Serve as clinical expert in various hospital committees, community groups, and organizations (United Ostomy Association, Diabetic Outpatient Clinic, and local home care agencies)
• Lead outcome evaluations including quarterly NDNQI pressure ulcer prevalence
• Participate in improvement initiatives related to WOC nursing practice
• Evaluate and develop product formularies and algorithms to support best practices for the prevention and treatment of wound, ostomy, and continence conditions
• Facilitate the needs of the bariatric population with specialty bed management
• Coordinate the delivery and documentation of safe quality patient care which includes promotion of interdisciplinary communication and regular interdisciplinary planning/rounds
• Complete timely documentation and promote a respectful, inclusive clinical environment
• Demonstrate teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment and retention of all healthcare team members
• Participate in and support performance improvement inclusive of all stakeholders, research, and research utilization to promote safe, quality patient care
• Initiate and/or lead improvement activities, promoting an inter/intra-disciplinary process and actively supporting/participating in shared governance at all levels in the system
• Ensure patient/family/staff confidentiality and corporate compliance for self (and accountability for team members) requirements including completing all required mandatory education and proficiencies
• Serve as a preceptor (or mentor) for other professional nurses (and staff or students for all disciplines) to ensure a current and future qualified workforce
• Model the professional practice of nursing and create a healthy work environment
• Promote evidence-based practice, nursing research, and performance improvement in nursing
• Participate in activities such as value analysis as part of the decision-making process in evaluating patient care products
• Uphold all health care system/organizational policies and procedures and clinical competencies put forth by this job description and professional association including legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements and standards
• Participate in data collection, pose relevant clinical questions to advance evidence-based practice
• Consult appropriate experts and use appropriate resources, data, and evidence to address practice questions
• Proactively plan for the care of patients across the care continuum in the course of giving direct patient care
• Participate in the development of protocols and procedures when called upon or through self-initiation in collaboration with care managers and other members of the health care team to achieve best practice outcomes
• Support efficient and effective use of human and material resources
• Precept specialty students (WOCN Program) and Nurse Practitioner students from Emory University WOCN Program, as well as KSU and distance learning students from across the United States
• Provide education and orientation to new hires and at continuing education opportunities to existing nurses and NCAs, providing formal and informal education to all levels of staff to appropriately manage patients with wound, ostomy, and continence issues

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited/approved school of nursing
• Minimum 3 years as a staff nurse in an acute care setting
• Ability to read, write, and speak English language
• Optimize the use of technology to support clinical care and holds basic computer skills
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative skills along with customer service skills
• Ability to function in a fast-paced environment and respond to emergencies using a decisive, composed, and respectful manner
• Possesses excellent time management skills
• Practices nursing using evidence and analytical skills along with strong critical thinking skills
• Knowledgeably upholds the practice of nursing as outlined by the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the American Nurses Association
• Reg Nurse (Single State) 1.00 Required
• RN - Multi-state Compact 1.00 Required
• Basic Life Support 2.00 Required
• BLS - Instructor 2.00 Required
• BLS - Provisional 2.00 Required

Nice to have:

• Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited school of nursing
• Nursing education from an accredited school of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing (WOCN) program and national certification in clinical specialty area
• When performing duties in outpatient wound care with hyperbaric unit, National certification in the area specialty of Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) by the National Board of Diving & Hyperbaric Medical Technology
• National certification in area of specialty Upon Hire

Important Details

• Work Shift: Day

About the Company

Wellstar's mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person they serve. They are recognized for their dedication to making a difference in the healthcare industry and in people's lives.