General Summary

• Autonomous wound care specialist providing consultative and individualized patient care consistent with the mission and values of the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute (UM Rehab & Ortho) and in accordance within the scope of practice, professional, and regulatory standards. Provides care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual needs of the persons served. Designs and implements comprehensive wound care direction to clinical staff and specified patient populations using evidence-based practice.
• Acknowledged as specialized resource and active participant within the interdisciplinary patient care services team. Identifies and implements cost effective strategies that optimize patient outcomes.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, and specific individual diagnostic needs of the patients served in his/her department. He/she must be able to assess and interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify each patient's specific needs and provide the care needed by the patient group population.
• Consistently expresses and demonstrates compassion and courtesy for patients. Extends courtesy and support to patient's families/visitors.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

• Supports development of Wound Champion Role
• Provides consultative unit wound care rounds on each inpatient unit as needed..
• Electronic/Paper documentation- Assures accurate and concise entry of patient care delivery along the continuum. Guides staff in documenting/entering data correctly in the medical record/EMR. as verified by chart review. Completes required training on electronic documentation.
• Wound Care- Guides staff in wound management processes that promote healing and maintain structural integrity of the skin. Holds self and staff responsible to perform a comprehensive skin assessment of the patient including accurate use of Braden Scale to assess risk of skin breakdown. Guides staff in identifying risk factors for impaired skin integrity. Assures appropriate strategies and/or treatment measures to prevent skin deterioration are implemented. Assures nutrition and wound care consultative services are obtained as indicated by findings.
• Team Leadership- Uses interpersonal and clinical skills to foster the concepts of team collaboration and team unity. Develops communication skills to enhance networking with other clinical staff. Delegates nursing tasks to licensed and unlicensed staff appropriate to skill level, competency and scope of role. Assures completion of delegated tasks. Encourages and empowers the staff toward professional growth despite diversity and personal differences. Uses multiple strategies toward organizational and/or unit change(s) for improvement. Assists the staff toward improving their individual or collective performance and productivity areas for improvement. Enhances professional growth and organizational skills of team members. Demonstrates ability for time management and conflict resolution skills.
• Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Management- Demonstrates ability to care for and manage a patient requiring NPWT. This includes knowledge of various dressing applications, various pumps and pump settings, assurance of ongoing clinical care delivery. Responds appropriately to treatment failure situations using critical thinking skills. Able to demonstrate clinical skills of role model behavior. Serves as a mentor and/or teacher for others in care of patient using a NPWT device.
• Assessment, Staging and Care of Pressure Injuries - Utilizing the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) pressure injury staging definitions, describes, accurately stages and recommends evidence-based treatments and practices for prevention and care of pressure injuries. Participates in coordination of periodic facility pressure injury prevalence surveys. Collects QI data regarding all facility-acquired and healing Stage III/IV pressure injuries. Teaches/mentors other clinical staff regarding prevention and care of pressure injuries. Models behaviors for prevention and treatment of pressure injuries.
• Wound/Skin Care Consultations - Provides consultation at request of other members of the health care team regarding care of various wounds and skin conditions. Documents with photography and in the electronic medical record, recommending appropriate evidence-based care interventions. Teaches/mentors staff, patients and caregivers in application of recommended wound care strategies, dressings and treatment systems, including specialty support surface/bed selection and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT).
• Ostomy and Fistula Management- Implements/recommends appropriate strategies and principles for managing gastrostomy tubes, various ostomies and fistulas to contain drainage, and maintain, heal and prevent skin breakdown from such drainage. Participates in selection, procurement and application of appropriate containment devices; teaches staff, patients and caregivers regarding various products and care of identified conditions.

Respect for individuals, Customer Service, Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide specialty wound care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual diagnostic needs of the persons served.
• Consistently expresses and demonstrates respect, compassion and courtesy for patients, family/visitors, and team members.
• . Acknowledged as the expert wound resource and active participant within the interdisciplinary patient care services team.
• Mentors and precepts staff to upgrade wound care knowledge and skills.
• Utilizes hand-off communication to convey appropriate patient/clinical information.
• Voices difference in opinion professionally through appropriate channels.

Leadership, Clinical and/or Technical Skills

• Exhibits a high level of critical thinking and clinical competency related to the patient population in the area of expertise.
• Acts as a change agent by supporting unit/organizational goals and participating in problem solving initiatives.
• Demonstrates effective documentation practices including required components of assessment, care planning, treatment and patient progress.
• Guides interdisciplinary team to provide a coordinated approach to patient/family education in accordance with patient needs and barriers encountered.
• Recommends appropriate therapeutic treatment modalities (DME and wound care devices/supplies) in preparation for efficient discharge planning.
• Serves as wound care consultant primarily to Nursing and extending to the interdisciplinary team.
• Participates in protocol development resulting in standardized wound care approaches across the organization.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Quality and Patient Safety:

• Participates in quality initiatives selected by the organization to assess, ensure and elevate quality of wound care practices. These may include monitoring outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure injuries and other selected metrics. Collects and assimilates data as requested.
• Ensures the safety of the clinical environment for patients, visitors, and other staff members.
• Demonstrates knowledge, practice, and accountability for compliance with the TJC National Patient Safety Goals.
• Detects, reports, and takes action to avoid or correct safety risks.
• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
• Uses proper channels to select and evaluate wound care products for hospital trial and utilization.
• Participates in the testing and selection of wound-related products such as selecting surfaces, trialing wound products, etc.
• Incorporates safe lifting techniques and body mechanics in daily practice.

Cost Effectiveness:

• Effectively sets priorities and demonstrates time management skills.
• Employs practices that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize charge capture when delivering patient care.
• Flexes scheduled hours to accommodate patient care service demands and staff needs.
• Recommends new technologies that reduce the cost of care or improve patient outcomes.

Education & Research:

• Assumes responsibility for maintaining competency and clinical knowledge base related to role.
• Identifies and addresses learning needs of self and fellow staff.
• Designs, teaches and attends required in-service education. Completes written and/or computerized training.
• Supports or participates in approved research projects.
• Participates in the growth, development, and support of wound champion nurses and fellow staff on clinical units to assure proper wound care 24/7.