The Wound Care Registered Nurse functions as the clinical expert, actively involved in clinical practice issues related to wound care. Incumbent is responsible for the quality of nursing practice and standards of care provided to patients with wounds and those at risk for pressure ulcer development. Functions as a role model to assist and educate the nursing staff providing the day to day care; risk assessments, potential for healing, and wound care product selection. Assists clinical leadership in leading, planning, controlling and evaluating nursing practices and operations as it relates to skin, wounds, and ostomy. Incorporates the psychomotor and age appropriate cognitive skills of the patient & family, using clinical knowledge of patient assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation.
- Coordinates and serves as a resource to physicians, nursing and other personnel, patients and family members in wound care needs of the patient, including wound vac therapy and equipment management. Effectively collaborates with the health care team to intervene, and advocate as necessary. Intervenes appropriately in instances of abuse, assault or neglect. Makes appropriate referrals to resolve patient issues effectively.
- Develops long and short-term goals consistent with treatment plans, standards of practice, and the plan of care, incorporating patient preference and discussing plan of care with patient. Appropriately utilizes pain management resources and other interventions to provide pain relief. Provides ongoing assessments and documents the patient’s physical and psychosocial condition, as well as response to care. Reviews patient test results, identifies critical results, and communicates in a timely manner consistent with the condition of the patient and correlates information into the plan of care. Consistently ensures nursing practice is evidence based, within scope of licensure and compliant with hospital wide standards of nursing care, including core measures. Ensures Infection Control procedures and HIPAA compliance.
- Collaborates with staff, physicians and members of the healthcare team, ensuring the coordination of care between other disciplines and support staff. Supervises, monitors and delegates patient care activities to appropriate members of the health care team, provides effective leadership and ensures that care is safe and of high quality. Acts as a source of information and articulately responds to questions, providing resources, guidance, and education about treatment plan, plan of care, and medications. Develops and implements accurate teaching, and wound care treatment and discharge plans.
- Empathizes with patient and patient support systems, expresses compassion and understanding for the situation and demonstrates care which is appropriate for the age, and cultural, religious, gender identity, or ethnic background. Engages in caring behaviors, taking conscious ownership for work and takes deliberate/thoughtful actions regarding how to best carry out interactions with the patient, families, physicians, and co-workers.
Required Qualifications:
- Active, current, and unencumbered Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of California
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- AHA Basic Life Support
- Wound Care Certification (WCC) or Certified Wound & Ostomy Nurse (CWON) within the first year of employment
- Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in English
- Ability to work variable shifts including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays
- Ability to maintain flexibility and composure in a constantly changing environment
- Two (2) years of previous clinical experience
- Hospital Fire and Life Safety Card (Los Angeles City Employees only)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bilingual skills to communicate effectively with patients and families
Sign On Bonus Eligibility: To be eligible for the Sign On Bonus, you must have one or more years (1+) of acute care RN hospital experience. Current Alta Hospital employees are not eligible and former Alta Hospital employees may not be eligible. The Sign on Bonus Program is only available for full-time RN positions. Bonus payments are made in increments over the course of 18 or 24 months to active employees in good standing.
Pay Rate: Min – $50.80 | Max – $69.84