IV CERTIFIED / WOUND CARE NURSE

POSITION SUMMARY:

The wound care nurse will be responsible for implementing and obtaining proper treatment/Dr. Orders for any noted skin alteration. Wound care nurse will also implement and maintain comprehensive resident assessment and plan of care.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

Education:     Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.

Certificate/Licenses:  Current, active license as Registered Nurse or Practical/Vocational Nurse in Florida.

Work Experience:     One year experience providing wound care.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:

·                     Knowledge of nursing principles and professional standards of nursing practice and ability to apply to resident specific circumstances. Able to identify, implement and evaluate appropriate objectives and interventions for residents.

·         Demonstrate competency in clinical skills needed for facility resident population.

·                     Demonstrate competency in physical, behavioral and functional capacity assessment of long term care residents.

·                     Working knowledge of laws and regulations that influence provision of care and services in nursing facilities.

·                     Working knowledge and ability to interpret and demonstrate facility policies, procedures to direct care staff.

·                     Sufficient organization and interact effectively with residents, families, interdisciplinary team members, administration, government officials, consultants and others in addition to staff.

·                     Carries out all duties in accordance to the facility mission and philosophy.

·                     Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the rights, dignity and individuality of each resident in all interactions.

·                     Able to understand and to follow written and verbal directions. Able to express adequately in written and/or oral communication (including documentation in clinical records) with direct care staff, interdisciplinary team members, administration, and government officials.

·                     Knowledge of emergency and disaster procedures of the facility. Able to locate the nearest exit, to understand and respond to written or oral instruction in case of emergency.

·                     Sufficient mobility to move freely through the building to assure resident safety at all times and to assist, transfer or otherwise move residents of facility out of danger in case of emergency.

·                     Demonstrates respect for co-workers and responds to needs of residents by complying with facility policies on attendance and punctuality and dress code. Able to arrive and to begin work on time and to report for duty on all shifts, weekends and holidays.

·                     Working knowledge and ability to comply with facility policies and procedures for workplace safety including infection control procedures, application of universal precautions for blood borne pathogens, use of personal protective equipment and handling of hazardous materials.

·                     Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks/responsibilities and complete duties/projects within allotted time.

·                     Able to respond to change productively and to handle additional tasks/projects as assigned.

·                     Able to carry out the essential functions of this job (with or without reasonable accommodation) without posing specific, current risk of substantial harm to health and safety of self and others.

·                     Completes required documentation of care and services delivered during shift including subjective findings, objective symptoms, interventions and resident responses to interventions. Completes required documentation of special circumstances including accident/incident reports in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

·                     Informs the resident in advance about care and treatment and any changes to the plan of care.

·                     Immediately informs the residents, consults with the residents’ physician and notifies the designated family member and/or the residents’ legal representative when there is an accident involving an injury which has potential for requiring physician intervention; a significant change in the resident’s physical, mental or psycho social status; a need to alter treatment significantly or a decision to transfer or discharge the resident from the facility. Promptly notifies the resident, designated family member and/or resident’s legal representative when there is a change in room or roommate.

·                     Reports relevant information to the Unit Manager/Charge Nurse including, interdisciplinary team functioning and communication, regulatory  compliance issues, resident risk factors, sudden changes in resident behavior expressed dissatisfaction by resident or family, refusals of treatment, unexplained injuries, staff behavior positive and negative). Staffing needs, equipment and supply needs, opportunities to revise policies, procedures, improve quality.

·                     Monitors staff for compliance with OSHA mandates on workplace safety including hazard communication and blood borne pathogens. In cases of workplace exposure, provides immediate first-aide and refers employee to appropriate facility staff member for post –exposure follow-up.

·                     Reports all injuries to self or others to supervisor immediately.

·                     Takes job actions with staff members under appropriate circumstances. Applies facility policies about progressive discipline correctly. Removes staff member from unit if necessary to avoid endangerment to health or safety of residents or other staff members.

·                     Reports all job actions taken to Unit manager promptly.

·                     Attends in-service education programs as assigned. Applies information to job tasks.

·                     Ensures completion of resident charges for supplies utilized on that shift.

·                     Assists with preparation for long term care survey. Attends survey training, interacts with state surveyors as instructed by supervisor.

PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS:

·                     Successful performance of essential functions can best be achieved through consistent application of current knowledge, use of good judgment, commonsense, ability to establish and carry out priorities, effective use of interpersonal skills and ongoing communication with residents, staff,  families, interdisciplinary team members, and government officials, including state surveyors and ombudsmen.

·                     This job cannot be performed without the stresses associated with an intimate 24 hour residential care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents with an average age of 80 years. Examples of these stresses include, but are not limited to; shift rotation, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in the nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors ombudsmen and deferral officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

·                     Essential functions are carried out in a variety of positions including standing and sitting. To meet residents’ needs, virtually all positions require the ability to move freely through the building. Stooping, bending, lifting and carrying, as well as other physical demands may be required as described in the Essential Physical Demands of this position.