Skin/Wound/Restorative Nurse RN

POSITION SUMMARY

The Skin, Wound, Restorative Nurse is a healthcare professional specializing in preventing and controlling skin breakdown and wound care within the long-term care facility and oversee and maintains the functional independence of the residents in the Facility. The position is responsible for assessing the resident’s skin/ wounds and physical ability then planning, implementing, and evaluating restorative care services to enhance residents’ physical and overall, well-being. This role involves implementing policies, conducting surveillance, and providing education to reduce the risk of skin breakdown and prevent wounds from occurring.

GENERAL JOB DUTIES

• All employees are responsible for knowing the employee handbook, along with the mission and vision of the Facility, and must conduct themselves with behavior that supports these values.
• All employees understand the safety and well-being of both the residents and staff members is the number one priority of their Facility.
• All employees are responsible for making the most of their working time and reach maximum potential by being on time for appointments, checking voicemail/emails as appropriate and completing deadlines in a timely manner.
• All employees are expected to escalate issues as necessary.
• You may be required to attend training sessions.
• Other projects and/or duties as assigned.

UNIT ASSIGNMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow established standards of nursing practice and implement facility policies and procedures.
• Keep clinical whiteboard updated and accurate.
• Monitor and report, when necessary, resident weight changes, skin conditions, abnormal lab and x-ray results, medication errors, medications not available, and other pertinent information affecting the well-being of residents to physicians, responsible parties, and the Director of Nursing.
• Listen to residents, families, and/or physician concerns and initiate corrective action and/or report concerns to appropriate supervisory staff.
• Assist/train (as needed) with new admissions, transfers, readmissions and discharges, following facility discharge and transfer procedures. Coordinate discharge and transfers with other departments, families and physicians.
• Train and Educate nurses, C.N.A.’s, and C.M.A.’s in clinical skills and documentation when needed and during orientation.
• Frequent rounding on your assigned station, providing direct resident care and giving ongoing instructions to CNA’s related to resident care, helping maintain call lights.
• Conduct resident rounds (8am, 10am, lunch, 2pm, 4pm, dinner, 7pm) reporting problems to the DON if necessary and initiate corrective action.
• Follow, supervise, and evaluate the implementation of Resident’s Rights.
• Audit skilled charts for completion of required documentation.
• Attend care conferences. Assist Social Services to facilitate appropriate discharge and arrange services as needed.
• Rotate on call schedule with administrative nurses, make staffing decisions as needed, if the staffing standards are below acceptable standards you will need to come in and work and notify others if additional staffing is needed. Problem solves with staff in the facility and follow the on-call expectations.
• Consistently work cooperatively with facility administration, nursing personnel, all facility departments, consultants, residents and families.
• Comply with established infection control and universal precaution practices.
• Observe all facility safety policies and procedures including working responsibly to ensure staff and resident safety.
• Will be required to participate in the facility education programs and coordinate student activities with the Director of Nursing.
• Attend staff meetings, in-service programs, and committee meetings as assigned.
• Identify safety hazards and take appropriate action.
• Participate in monthly QAPI meetings
• Accept and perform additional duties as assigned by your DON, ADON or Administrator in a cooperative manner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Skins/ Wounds:

• Implement policies and procedures to help control breakdown in skin and wounds.
• Conduct regular surveillance for skin and wound breakdown (2) times per week within the facility.
• Complete skin/wound tracking and surveillance documents.
• Educate staff/ residents on skin breakdown and wound prevention and appropriate preventative measures and specific treatments as needed.
• Assess and document residents wounds/skin tears on clinical whiteboard
• Attend wound management continuing education seminars as needed.
• Create/Maintain shower and bath schedules for the residents.

Restorative:

• Assess residents’ functional abilities and limitations.
• Educate nursing staff on proper techniques for assisting residents with mobility and transfers.
• Provide restorative and rehabilitative care by using the guidelines established by the Physical and Occupational Therapists.
• Document specific restorative interventions, progress, or lack of progress on the monthly progress notes and appropriate flow sheets.
• Monitor the use of assistive devices, splints, etc. as directed by the Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and/or Physician.
• Review and track resident falls. Implement appropriate interventions to minimize the residents’ risk for falls and communicate these interventions to all staff.
• Assist residents in group and/or individual exercise programs using both active and passive range of motion and ambulation.
• Work with therapy in establishing activities which will promote exercise and mobility.
• Establish an effective continence program using management guidelines.
• Work with the nurses in bladder retraining and eventual removal or catheters.
• Review care plans and perform restorative care as outlined in the individualized care plan.
• Update resident care signs with intervention changes and communicate changes to the MDS coordinator timely.
• Accurately assess and document each resident’s full range of motion upon admission and with each change of their condition.
• Develop comprehensive care plans that address specific restorative needs.
• Comprehend and follow all OSHA, State, and Federal policies and regulations.
• Accept and perform additional duties as assigned by your DON, ADON or Administrator in a cooperative manner.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Licensure/Certification in the state of Iowa required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to work in high-pressure or emergency situations that may face strict deadlines. Extended shifts may be necessary, and hours may exceed 40 per week to perform duties effectively, including some weekends and evenings.
• Ability to lift up to 50+ pounds or more with assistance. This position requires regular movements such as grasping, kneeling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive movement, standing, and stooping. An individual in this position will be expected to use, assist, and demonstrate devices for handling or lifting residents.
• An individual in this position may be exposed to inside and outside environmental conditions, physical, chemical, or respiratory hazards.
• An individual in this position may be exposed to Bloodborne Pathogens.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Consistently demonstrate dependability, responsibility, and set a positive example for all other staff.
• Communicate in a positive resident centered manner with anyone you engage with on behalf of Bethany.
• Must be able to explain complicated information in a way that is easy for anyone to understand.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, both professional and interpersonal.
• The ability to work both independently and within a team.
• A responsible, organized, and detail-oriented mindset.
• Refined time management skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, in addition to superior computer skills.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

At your Facility, we understand that every employee is different in his or her own way. We do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, military status, or other non-merit factors. The Facility is a proud Equal Opportunity workplace. By signing below, I am certifying that I am qualified for this position (as described above) and capable of performing the general and essential functions of the position. I agree that this Job Description has reasonable expectations and that this is in no way, shape, or form a contract of employment. By signing this document, there is no guarantee of continued employment as the State of Iowa mandates at-will employment.