Wound Ostomy Care Nurse - Steward Health Care System

POSITION SUMMARY

Responsibilities include consultation; assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of problems and interventions for patients with wound, ostomy, or continence needs; patient care and education, staff education and support; quality audits; product recommendation, and participation in hospital committees, projects, and research. Provides general nursing care as needed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service

• Follows appropriate lines of communication to effectively resolve difficult patient/family/physician/staff situations.
• Responds promptly and courteously to customer (Internal & external)/patient requests.
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers with respect of differences in cultures, values, beliefs and ages.
• Respects patient/customer privacy and confidentiality.
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own actions with appropriate follow through. Fulfills commitments.
• Consistently presents a positive attitude in working with internal and external customers.

Organization Responsibilities

• Responds appropriately and immediately in emergency situations.
• Maintains a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, and/or staff to provide the highest level of physical comfort, and minimize risk and injury.
• Ensures compliance with regulations to maintain accreditation, licensure and certification.
• Completed all Hospital and Department Specific Mandatory requirements in the prior calendar year.
• Applies principles of National Patient Safety Goals and integrates them into clinical practice where applicable.

Behavioral Competencies

• Fosters interdisciplinary, collaborative relationships within the department and the organization.
• Works cooperatively and collaboratively building a positive team spirit.
• Makes timely and appropriate decisions in the face of conflicting demands and interests
• Is open, honest and trustworthy, able to acknowledge making a mistake.
• Understands own weaknesses & limitations and works to improve upon them.
• Readily adapts to change and welcomes new approaches when circumstances demand it.
• Utilizes the departmental process to find the most appropriate solution to challenges.
• Exhibits respectful awareness of others feelings and demonstrates willingness to help others.
• Supports patient care needs in adhering to attendance policies with regards to tardiness, absences, and vacation scheduling.
• Presents a positive reflection on the hospital and its Core Values
• Follows hospital standards of work (i.e., dress code, name badge, and parking).

Job Responsibilities: Registered Nurse

• Assesses (and reassesses), plans, implements, and evaluates nursing interventions/plans of care/patient goals.
• Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures.
• Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patients sense of dignity and positive self-regard.
• Provides patient/family teaching based on identified learning needs, readiness to learn, and barriers to learning.
• Appropriately prioritizes patient care.
• Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent data, therapeutic interventions and patient responses including assessment, care plan, patient goals, and interventions according to established standards.
• Assumes accountability for remaining current regarding standards of care established by the profession, regulatory and accreditation bodies and hospital policies and procedures.
• Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e., appropriate reporting of errors/incidents).
• Identifies ethical issues in care and implements actions to address.
• Safely administers medications and intravenous therapy in accordance with physicians orders, protocols, policies and procedures.
• Assesses, reassesses and documents patients pain, using an appropriate pain scale.

Specialty Job Responsibilities: Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse

• Provides consultation and assistance to staff in management of patients with:
  • Draining wounds and fistulas
  • Potential or existing deficits in skin
  • Percutaneous tubes
  • Continent diversions or ostomies
  • Urinary and fecal Incontinence
  • Vacuum Assisted Closure Wounds
• Educates patients receiving continent diversion or ostomy surgery
• Educates staff
• Provides consultation to surgeons for preoperative stoma site selection based on anatomy, activity level, and patient lifestyle
• Provides consultation to case managers for discharge planning.
• Audits patient records for quality improvement and regulatory compliance
• Facilitates monthly pressure ulcer prevalence studies and reports data
• Recommends wound, ostomy, continence products
• Participates on hospital committees, projects, and research
• Clinical preceptor for undergraduate and graduate nursing students

Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.

1. Commits to recognize and respect cultural diversity for all customers (internal and external).

2. Communicates effectively with internal and external customers with respect of differences in cultures, values, beliefs and ages, utilizing interpreters when needed.

Performs other duties as assigned

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/LICENSURE/TECHNICAL/OTHER

1. Education: Graduate of accredited school of nursing required. Minimum BSN. Completion of enterostomal, wound, ostomy, continence care program from an accredited institution strongly preferred.
2. Experience (Type & Length): At least 2 years of current nursing experience preferred.
3. Certification/Licensure: Current nursing registration in Massachusetts required. Board Certification in Wound, Ostomy, Continence nursing required within the first year of employment. BLS required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Saint Annes Hospital is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Steward Health Care does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.