Job Description

Job Responsibilities / Essential Functions:
* Assessment: Performs patient assessments, implements care plan, adheres to established standards of care. Identifies the physical, psychosocial and teaching/ learning needs of outpatients/inpatients with wounds and/or ostomy patients as well as patients undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy where applicable. Maintains a systematic approach to pertinent data collection from the patient or family/caregiver as appropriate and documents data in the electronic medical record. Collaborates with patients, providers, family, significant others and other healthcare professionals to obtain pertinent data to help develop plan of care. Collaborate and convey all data to provider(s).
* Planning: Develops an individual plan of care and goals with patient, family, significant other and providers. Identifies and prioritizes expected outcomes and goals in planning patient care based on wound healing/hyperbaric medicine best practices and program guidelines. Identifies and involves the multidisciplinary team to meet each individual patient needs and concerns through the development of goals and anticipated outcomes. Maintains communication between interdisciplinary team to carry out plan of care (e.g. Hyperbaric medicine, visiting nurses, primary physicians and other healthcare professionals as needed).
* Implementation: Implements plan of care, adheres to established wound healing/hyperbaric medicine program guidelines for care and provides care as ordered by the provider. Demonstrate critical thinking and time management skills necessary for effective patient care. Performs all procedures and treatments according to established wound healing/hyperbaric medicine policies, protocols and best practice guidelines. Assume responsibility and accountability for the safe nursing care of assigned patients. Delegate responsibilities appropriately to others. Encourages patient and family to participate in activities of daily living. Administers medication, dressings and treatments according to provider orders. Actively participates in applicable daily huddles to support coordinated care. Contributes to the development of Standards of Care. Serve as a resource to hospital staff, providers and other healthcare professionals. Orients members of the healthcare profession to the current standards for wound/ostomy/hyperbaric oxygen care using best practice. Maintain complete and accurate documentation. Identify and document realistic long and short-term goals.
* Case Management: The RN will accept accountability for identifying and meeting/coordinating patient care needs including but not limited to home care, DME orders, communication with all providers involved in the patients care. Discuss and change plan of care as needed to obtain ultimate patient outcomes. Answer calls and queries from appropriate internal and external clients including but not limited to patients/post-acute facilities/VNA/Insurance entities regarding wound/hyperbaric care supplies or other issues and report back to assigned provider as necessary. To review all test results with assigned provider and revise plan of care as necessary. Has a working knowledge of and adheres to the policies and protocols of the department. Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills for non-routine issues. Maintains appropriate documentation on the acute care patient.
* Evaluation: Evaluates effectiveness of the plan of care and revises as appropriate utilizing best practice guidelines, the program policies and protocols. Recognizes and evaluates patient response to treatment and nursing interventions. Revises and updates patient plan of care as needed and readily recognizes and evaluates family/caregiver response to treatments and nursing interventions.
* Documentation: Maintains complete and accurate documentation in the electronic medical records. Documents all aspects of the patient encounter including response to treatment, family/caregiver response to treatment/nursing interventions. Documents patient/family teaching and their responses, discharge information and revised plan of care (if needed).
* Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Maintains a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff, recognizes emergency situations and takes appropriate action, complies with infection control policies. Demonstrates essential knowledge of pharmacology when administering medications. Demonstrates essential knowledge of safety plan, emergency equipment and procedures. Adheres to the current National Patient Safety Goals. Use two patient identifiers and check allergies before medication administration. Follow hand washing protocols and maintain isolation precautions. Properly use and store equipment, checking expiration dates. Adheres to OSHA, Joint Commission, Standards of Nursing Practice supported by NJ BON, professional association, ANA Code of Ethics & Scope of Standards and Practice NJ Board of Health, and hospital standards/policies.
* Communication/Collaboration: Communicates and collaborates clearly and effectively with providers, care managers and staff in both the inpatient and outpatient setting to facilitate the continuum care spectrum and to optimize positive patient outcomes. Participates in Shared Governance committees as assigned and shares the information within the unit during staff meetings. Complete hand-off communication and give complete reports to other caregivers.
* Education: Demonstrates professional practice responsibility; fulfills mandatory education obligations. Identifies areas for clinical and professional growth such as attaining national certification, attending pertinent education offerings, attaining specialty certification, and achieves RN PACT. Fulfills professional responsibility for mentoring all staff and sharing knowledge. Demonstrate continued competency of applicable clinical skills. Perform nursing-related skills and activities competently.
* Professional Practice Responsibility: Demonstrates professional manner in all aspects of role. Works cooperatively with staff to maintain an efficient functioning unit. Participates in unit meetings, in-services and projects. Seeks new information to broaden knowledge base and keep practice current. Set daily schedule that meets department productivity expectations. Applies new knowledge/research to modify and improve practice. Provides orientation to floor nurses and patient care technicians as delegated by the WHC nursing coordinator (site-specific where applicable). Actively participates in Shared Governance. Demonstrate leadership and function as a resource/mentor.

Qualifications

Required:
* Graduate of an accredited RN Program (All ASN must complete their BSN studies within five years of their start date).
* Current state licensure as a Registered Nurse
* BLS certification
* ACLS certification (Hyperbaric only)

Preferred:
* 1+ year experience in acute care nursing and/or wound/HBO care preferred
* Wound and/or Hyperbaric Certification strongly preferred (WOCN, WCC, CWS, CAWS, ACH, CHT, CHRN)
* Bachelor's degree in nursing.

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