Provides age specific care to outpatients with abdominal stomas, wounds, fistulae, drains, pressure ulcers and incontinence utilizing the nursing process; assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patients, families and staff and then plans, implements and evaluates teaching; facilitates an interdisciplinary approach to achieve positive patient outcomes.

Essential Job Functions  

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
• Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• The Registered Nurse may provide direct oversight of the GN, LPN, Technical Partner, ALS Technician, Nurse Extern and Unit Clerks. This oversight includes the Registered Nurse conducting the initial comprehensive assessment and interpreting the assessment to initiate the interprofessional plan of care. This oversight includes support of the delegation of duties that are within the scope and capability of the care team.
• Ensures that assessment of the patient and the direct and indirect care provided is delivered in accordance with the PA Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies procedures, protocols and other professional standards of care.
  • Collects patient health assessment data on admission and in an ongoing systematic manner as it relates to wound, ostomy and continence care, focusing on the physical, psychological, age specific, cultural and spiritual needs of the patient
  • Documents according to hospital policy within the established time frames
  • Assists the nursing staff in developing a realistic plan of care for each patient assessed with wound, ostomy of continence needs.
  • Reassesses the patient's condition and the effectiveness of the nursing interventions and makes recommendations or revisions to the plan per skin integrity protocol
  • Involves the patient/family and initiates patient referrals to community agencies when appropriate
  • Complies with completeness, accuracy and timeliness of documentation
• Develops an educational process for the provision and coordination of patient care activities that promote and maintain health, fosters self-care and improves outcomes.
  • Assesses the educational needs and learning strategies of patient/families specific to their wound, ostomy or continence disease entity and the age of the patient and develops their teaching plan
  • Develops and teaches didactic and clinical application programs for nursing personnel, physicians and community groups on an as needed basis
  • Acquires and distributes educational resources tailored to the patient's needs.
  • Provides discharge instructions that demonstrate an inter-relationship between education, discharge planning and continuity of care
  • Provides pre-operative counseling for patients scheduled for ostomy or continence surgery.
  • Accepts and follows through on outpatient referrals for counseling and/or education
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired patient outcomes and assure a continuous flow of patient care.
  • Participates in interdisciplinary forums related to wounds ostomy and continence care
  • Takes action to proactively identify and resolve patient needs, including notifying physicians of identified concerns etc.
  • Maintains a networking relationship with other area WOCNs
• Participates in department performance improvement activities designed to enhance the quality of patient care and customer service.
  • Evaluates products, techniques and equipment related to wound, ostomy and continence care and makes recommendations, revisions and updates as appropriate
  • Keeps abreast of new products available and uses research findings to promote quality patient care
  • Maintains accurate statistical records.
• Demonstrates leadership by utilizing the concepts inherent to the practice of the professional nurse.
  • Demonstrates the ability to independently problem solve utilizing critical thinking skills and seeks assistance from others as appropriate
  • Creates an awareness of the services provided by the Ostomy Support Group and other related organizations
  • Maintains accountability for actions taken
  • Effectively functions as a resource person
  • Acts as a patient advocate
  • Performs effectively in the role of preceptor/mentor to new hires/students
  • Assists in maintaining/decreasing organizational/department costs
• Assists in the department's/organization's compliance with state, JCAHO, OSHA and other regulatory agencies.
  • Participates in preparation for inspections and surveys
• Provides for patient safety in compliance with hospital and nursing department policies.
  • Utilizes two forms of identification before implementing any form of patient care
  • Involves the patient and/or family in patient safety standards and processes
  • Assumes appropriate code team role during medical emergencies
  • Responds effectively during emergency situations
• Assists in maintaining a safe and clean environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Specialty Beds
  • Assesses need for and type of specialty bed
  • Monitors effectiveness of specialty beds
  • Works collaboratively with Central Processing and specialty bed companies on product evaluation and selection and cost containment
  • Mentors staff on prevention, assessment, and treatment of pressure injuries
  • Monitor and gather data regarding hospital acquired pressure injuries on a monthly bases and report to clinical directors and risk management departments
  • Develops and presents staff education programs on an as needed basis as requested by clinical directors/education department.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
• Graduate of a Wound, Ostomy Continence Nursing Program.

• Five (5) years’ experience in clinical nursing
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

 Preferred Qualifications/Experience

•  Master’s Degree in Nursing preferred.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
• Wound Care Certification through WOCNCB, WANC, WOCN, CANCC within one (1) year of hire or transfer
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.