Home Health Nurse RN - Wound Care

Summary The WOCN Registered Nurse provides professional and comprehensive nursing care within the scope of agency services, with specialized expertise in wound, ostomy, continence, and catheter-related care. This role serves patients requiring skilled home care while providing clinical leadership through consultative visits, advanced assessment, and coordination of care. The WOCN fosters and promotes strong clinical relationships with providers, clinics, hospitals, and internal departments, supporting collaborative, professional communication to improve patient outcomes and care coordination. Activities of this position utilize the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation in accordance with nursing practice standards, physician orders, and agency policies and procedures. Responsibilities (50%)*Provides specialized wound, ostomy, continence, and catheter-related nursing care through ongoing in-person consultative visits across the service area, supporting a group of complex and high-risk patients with needs including but not limited to ostomies, urinary or fecal catheters, wounds, fistulas, pressure injuries, and skin care associated with incontinence. (30%)*Initiates and supports the plan of care through clinical consultation and coordination by assessing patient outcomes, identifying barriers to care, collaborating with Skilled Nurses and Case Managers, reviewing documentation, and communicating with providers regarding patient status, recommended interventions, and orders as needed. (10%)* Assists in program development, quality initiatives, and provides clinical education and consultation to staff, physicians, and community partners related to wound, ostomy, and continence care, serving as a clinical ambassador to promote collaborative and professional communication that supports care coordination and improved patient outcomes and experience. (5%)*Performs periodic review of wound and ostomy documentation and contributes to process improvement activities based on identified trends, risks, or opportunities for improvement. (5%)*Coordinates and supports care delivery through clinical consultation, participation in case conferences, high-risk patient monitoring, intake prescreening related to wounds or ostomies to identify potential risks and provide early clinical recommendations as appropriate, and collaboration with leadership and interdisciplinary team members as appropriate. OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports patient visits or admissions as assigned to meet operational or patient care needs. Functions as case manager for assigned caseload if assigned. Functions as part of a multi-disciplinary team in coordinating care including planning for discharge. May make joint visits with other clinicians to assure consistency of care. Establishes a Home Health Aide care plan and supervises the Home Health Aide according to Agency guidelines. Provides patients/clients/caregivers/physicians with the necessary information to promote informed decision-making leading to the achievement of optimal level of independence as required by regulatory agencies. Evaluates and updates education material, policy, procedure and/or practices based on best practice as assigned. Orients new personnel on ostomy care, wound/skin care and tube care. Acts as a preceptor to provide educational visit opportunities for students and will participate in orientation of staff as assigned. Participates in staff meetings, in-service education programs, and other opportunities for learning. Performs other duties as assigned. Utilizes Agency documentation system to record services provided according to agency, professional, and program standards. Assists in maintenance of patient/client records. Complies with documentation requirements for employee personnel and activity records as defined in Agency policy. Participates in Agency performance improvement process. Carries out work according to Agency policies and procedures in such a manner as to appropriately reflect Agency standards for timeliness, accuracy, and productivity. Maintains confidentiality of patient/client and Agency information. Adheres to the Agency standards related to personal appearance and behavior. Participates in Agency, community, and/or Home Health organization activities as assigned. Assists in Agency community education activities as requested. Certifications and Licensures *Credential: BLS: Basic Life Support Equivalent Experience: Within 1 month of hire or transfer Qualification Source: AHA *Credential: DRIVERSLIC: Drivers License Equivalent Experience:  *Credential: VEH INS: Vehicle Insurance Equivalent Experience:  *Credential: RN: Registered Nurse Equivalent Experience:  *Credential: FINGERPRIN: Fingerprinting Equivalent Experience:  *WCC - Wound Care Certification Required    Equivalent Experience - Graduate of a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) accredited school of enterostomal therapy. Ongoing certification in specialty. Required Education Education: Bachelors Degree Equivalent Experience:  Other Information EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND SKILLS: Home Health Experience Preferred. Able to function as part of a team. Knowledge of nursing practices and procedures as normally acquired through 2 years in a Medical Center or similar setting with involvement in supervision, charge nurse, project implementation, professional development program, shared governance leadership role, or equivalent. Knowledge of nursing skills working with ostomies, wounds, and fistulas. Successful completion of Agency orientation and competency programs. Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing and able to understand the English language. Ability to adapt to frequent changes. Ability to recognize the needs and concerns of people and maintain constructive interpersonal relationships. Ability to work independently, demonstrating problem-solving and organizational skills. Ability to drive under hazardous road conditions. Ability to work where employee may be exposed to communicable diseases in unpredictable home situations. MyMichigan Health is a technology driven organization and employees need to demonstrate competency in Microsoft® Windows. Employees may be required to participate in further learning opportunities offered by MyMichigan Health. PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Exposure to stressful situations, including those involving public contact, as well as trauma, grief and death. Able to wear personal protective equipment that includes latex materials or appropriate substitute if required for your position. Is able to move freely about facility with or without an assisted device and must be able to perform the functions of the job as outlined in the job description. Overall vision and hearing is necessary with or without assisted device(s). Frequently required to sit/stand/walk for long periods of time. May require frequent postural changes such as stooping, kneeling or crouching. Some exposure to blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious material. Must follow MyMichigan Health bloodborne pathogen and TB testing as required. Ability to handle multiple tasks, get along with others, work independently, regular and predictable attendance and ability to stay awake. Overall dexterity is required including handling, reaching, grasping, fingering and feeling. May require repetition of these movements on a regular to frequent basis. Physical Demand Level: Medium. Must be able to occasionally (0-33% of the workday) lift or carry 21-50 lbs., frequently 34-66% of the workday 20 lbs. and or Walk/Stand/Push/Pull of Arm/Leg controls and constantly (67-100% or the workday) 10 lbs.