Overview

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOC) Nurse provides evidence-based practice that incorporates a unique body of knowledge to provide excellence in prevention, health maintenance, therapeutic intervention, rehabilitative and palliative nursing care to persons with select disorders of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary systems. The WOC nurse directs efforts to improve quality of care to individuals of all ages directly through hands on care and indirectly as educators and consultants.

Responsibilities

1. Serves as a consultant to provide insight and potential solutions for complex clinical cases to improve patient care and outcomes for patients with wounds, ostomy, or continence related issues.

2. Uses judgment and critical thinking skills to assess, diagnose, and identify outcomes; develop and implement an individualized care plan; and evaluate care of the patient with wounds, ostomy, or continence issues.

3. Uses evidence-based assessment techniques, instruments, tools, and available data and information to identify problems and needs of the patient with wounds, ostomy, or continence issues.

4. Leads and/or participates in inter-professional teams to communicate, collaborate, and consult effectively; and ensure that safe, effective, efficient, timely, patient-centered, and equitable care is provided for the patient with wound, ostomy, or continence issues.

5. Develops, evaluates, and revises processes, policies, procedures, and protocols to reflect evidence-based practice and accepted changes in care management, or to address emerging problems for patients with wounds, ostomy, or continence issues.

6. Develops and evaluates protocols for the prevention of hospital acquired pressure injuries.

7. Collaborates with Nursing Education to educate nursing staff regarding the care of patients with wounds, ostomy, or continence issues.

8. Collaborates with the Department of Patient Care, Department of Quality and Patient Safety and Risk Management to monitor patients with pressure injuries.

9. Evaluates new products and collaborates with the Value Analysis Program to ensure product inventory is consistent with the needs of patient population and the nursing staff.

10. Adheres to the American Nurses Association standards.

11. Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).

12. Adheres to the standards identified in the Medical Center's Organizational Competencies.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. Graduate of a NLN/AACN accredited program in nursing. Minimum baccalaureate degree.

2. Completion of a WOCN Society accredited WOC education program within 18 months of employment.

3. Minimum of 3 years nursing experience.

4. Certification by the WOC Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB) in wound, ostomy and continence care required or must be obtained within 18 months of employment.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

1. Experience in nursing education; able to write and present oral presentations.

2. Experience in performance improvement and/or quality initiatives.

3. Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Power Point, and Excel).

4. Maintains WOCNCB certification every 5 years.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

1. NJ State Professional Registered Nurse License.

2. AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

1. Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Certification.

Job ID 2024-153364

Department Enterostomal Therapy

Site Hackensack University Med Cntr

Job Location US-NJ-Hackensack

Position Type Full Time with Benefits

Standard Hours Per Week 40

Shift Day

Shift Hours 8:30am - 5pm

Weekend Work No Weekends Required

On Call Work No On-Call Required

Holiday Work No Holidays Required