Wound Care RN Coordinator

Advocate Health; Oak Lawn (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health is seeking a Wound Care Coordinator RN to lead wound/skin management across patient populations in an Illinois hospital setting. The role involves conducting assessments, planning care, and educating patients and families on wound care techniques.

The ideal candidate holds a BSN with 4 years of RN wound care experience and board certification within two years of hire. Collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary teams will be essential to improve patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• BSN required.
• Board certification within 2 years or by 12/31/2015.
• 4 years clinical RN experience in wound care.
• Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Responds to consultation requests in a timely manner.
• Provides direct care to a select patient population.
• Performs comprehensive assessments (patient and family).
• Develops comprehensive care plans based on current theories and products.
• Demonstrates wound care techniques and educates patients and families.
• Provides supportive counseling to patient and family.
• Communicates and collaborates with physicians, nurses, and staff to ensure quality care.
• Leads wound care education and participates in committees to improve practice.

Skills

Priority setting

Basic computer skills

Departmental management

Interpersonal communication

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Board Certification within 2 years or by 12/31/2015

Tools

EMR

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

Patient Satisfaction

• Responds to consultation requests in a timely manner.
• Provides direct care to a select patient population.
• Performs a comprehensive assessment (patient and family).
• Develops a comprehensive care plan based on knowledge of current theories and products.
• Demonstrates techniques of wound care and provides patient and family with educational materials to enhance the learning process.
• Provides supportive counseling to allow patient exploration of feelings and expression of fears and concerns.

Clinical Outcomes

• Assesses, plans, initiates, and evaluates the care of patients with impaired skin integrity, complex wounds, draining wounds, tubes, and fistulas in the inpatient setting and documents appropriately.
• Formulates standards of care for skin integrity and wound care patient populations.
• Maintains clinical knowledge through continuous learning. Provides information on current trends and techniques to staff by actively leading the Wound and Skin Committee and as an advocate of the interdisciplinary and collaborative approach towards wound healing.
• Initiates and participates in studies and/or projects which will improve patient care, i.e., pressure ulcer prevalence studies, appropriate use of products, compliance with established standards and procedures. Facilitates utilization of research and evidence-based recommendations in clinical practice.
• Performs wound/skin consultations using a comprehensive approach and systematic assessment of the patient, to formulate a suggested plan of care.
• Makes collaborative/independent clinical decisions in solving patient care problems and provides therapeutic measures within area of practice.
• Coordinates prevalence studies, submits statistics and implements/monitors action plans as appropriate to findings. Identifies, monitors and evaluates quality issues related to clinical practice.
• Educates healthcare professionals, other caregivers, and patients about risk factors, the prevention or pressure ulcers, and appropriate interventions and treatments.
• Collaborates with other healthcare members to assure appropriate referral follow-up upon discharge. Assures continuity of care by making appropriate referrals for follow-up upon discharge of the patient.

Physician Relations

• Communicates and collaborates effectively with physicians, nurses, directors and other healthcare team members to assure delivery of quality care in a high stress environment.
• Establishes excellent physician relations and supports hospital physician relations initiatives.
• Actively participates in hospital committees and projects and coordinates efforts with appropriate medical staff leadership.
• Provides skin integrity and wound care clinical consultation for physician staff.

Growth

• Evaluates effectiveness of clinical management strategies.
• Establishes methods for tracking patients’ progress through the entire episode or continuum of care.
• Participates in program development and implementation.
• Develops tools to facilitate the continuity and coordination of wound/skin management.
• Communicates plans of care, pathways, algorithms, and guidelines and their revisions to physicians, nurses and other multidisciplinary professionals.
• Collaborates with the case managers and social workers to identify discharge needs.

Funding Our Future

• Facilitates the management of resources needed to address the health care needs of patient with complex wounds in various settings.
• Facilitates discharge-planning activities.
• Evaluates products used for care of patients in clinical practice.
• Orders supplies for clinical and recommends supplies for hospital use cost containment concerns.
• Collaborates with local suppliers of necessary equipment, as well as the manufacturers of these items. Supplies patients with a list of supplies.
• Manages criteria review for specialty bed utilization and ensures appropriate tracking and charging of same.

- Associate satisfaction Wound Care Coordinator will provide other associates with education regarding the assessment, measurement, and treatment of wounds. Wound Care Coordinator will support associates in their care of wounds by consulting at the bedside and providing assistance with ongoing wound care outside the normal scope of the staff RN.

Licensure:

Nurse, Registered (RN)

Education/Experience Required:

Effective January 1, 2012: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

*Board Certification by 12/31/2015 or within two years of hire •

4 years clinical experience as an RN in wound care.

Education requirements if hired into this position prior to January 1, 2012: • bachelor's degree.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Good priority setting ability.
• Basic computer skills.
• Departmental management skills.
• Effective interpersonal communication skills.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Flexible hours according to customer needs. • Ability to demonstrate a commitment to patient-focused care.
• Ability to prioritize independently and respond to multiple simultaneous requests.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with established time constraints and in difficult situations.
• May be exposed to hazardous materials and life-threatening diseases. • Ability to perform lifting/transfer activities related to patients (up to 50 lbs. may be required).
• Ability to transport objects from one location to another.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by participating in professional organizations, attending educational seminars, and staying abreast of current literature. *This position needs to recognize needs and behaviors of specific age groups of patients treated.
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

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.