Wound Care Registered Nurse

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Wound Care Registered Nurse/In-patient Wound Nurse
40 hour day shift position- 4 x10's or 3 x12's
90% of the job is clinical
No weekends or holidays

Job Description:

Reports to the Director of Clinical Nursing Services, and in collaboration with the Certified Wound/Ostomy/Continence Nurse (CWOCN), the Wound Care Nurse practices within the Lahey Clinic Professional Practice Model, MA Nurse Practice Act, ANA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics and demonstrates Lahey Clinic’s core values that reflect its Mission. The Wound Care Nurse promotes excellence in nursing practice by providing expert wound and skin nursing care to patients based on  current best practice and evidence/research. The Wound Care Nurse functions as a clinical/educational resource to nursing  staff. The nurse-patient/family relationship, continuity of care and accountability are central to the delivery of individualized high quality patient care. The Wound Care Nurse facilitates the wound and skin assessment and care across the continuum and demonstrates safe practice within the domains of:

• Professional relationships
• Clinical leadership
• Clinical scholarship 
• Clinical education
• Research and evidenced based nursing practice

Primarily this role will be seeing inpatients, based off being consulted, to assess, provide direct treatment, and specialized recommendations for the wound care of all hospitalized patients.  Additional duties include attending meetings, responding to Quality and Risk Partners and education.

The Wound Care Nurse maintains a current level of knowledge and skill with technical procedures as defined by nursing specialty organizations. The Wound Care Nurse complies with all regulations and standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies and maintains current licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Massachusetts.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities: including but not limited to:
I. Clinical Judgment and Decision Making: 
A. In collaboration with the nurse caring for the patient and CWOCN perform systematic patient wound/skin assessment.
B. Evaluate effectiveness of care and adapt plan based on patient response.
C. Determine appropriate support surfaces for patients at risk of developing pressure sores.
D. Collaborate with staff nurses to determine risk assessment for skin breakdown
E. In collaboration with staff nurses, examine all new admissions to critical care looking for skin issues
F. Stage pressure ulcers and document in progress notes.
G. Evaluate appropriateness of nursing care plans r/t skin issues and communicate recommendations to 
the nurse caring for the patient.
H. Communicate changes in skin condition to leadership team and CWOCN therapists.
I. File safety reports for reportable breakdown
J. Collaborate with COWN for all patients transferring from critical care areas to med/surg areas to evaluate plan of care
K. Review all documentation prior to patients leaving facility from critical care

I. Professional Relationships:
A. Facilitates the establishment of a professional relationship with nurses, physicians and other colleagues and serves as a role model for others
• Practices self awareness regarding appropriate interpersonal and communication skills to  ensure demonstration of professional behavior.
• Demonstrates good communication skills with all colleagues.
• Respects opinions of all colleagues.
• Communicates with physicians and other colleagues to provide continuity of care and provider across the care continuum. 
B. Facilitates the establishment of a professional relationship with patient and family and serves as a role model for others 
• Respects the values (religious/spiritual, ethnic, cultural) of the patient and family.
• Communicates with the patient and family appropriately for the age of the patient and family members.
• Maintains confidentiality and patient rights in interactions with the patient/family and other health care workers.
C. Facilitates the nurse/nurse relationship and serves as a role model to others
• Actively involved in strategies that promote the image of nursing. 
• Provides guidance and encourages the professional growth of others.
• Serves as a resource on a daily basis to all staff.

II. Clinical Leadership: 
Integrates the components of professional nursing practice by serving as teacher and role model. 
These role components include: facilitator, consultant, leader, and change agent.

A. Demonstrates skills as a facilitator a