Registered Nurse, Wound Care Clinic

Detailed Overview

In accordance with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) standards of practice and the Mission and Values of Fraser Health, and working collaboratively and in partnership with the interprofessional care team in the provision of person-centered care, the Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements and evaluates nursing care for clients referred to the community-based Wound Care Clinic. Provides wound and skin care, care of dressings related to drainage tubes, and related services such as teaching clients and families / care givers about wound care and providing information and demonstration of care activities to support self-care. Responsibilities Assesses clients referred to the Wound Care Clinic and collects information from a variety of sources using skills of observation, communication, data review and physical assessment. Makes a nursing diagnosis of the client's condition and determines whether the condition can be improved or resolved by an appropriate nursing intervention. Plans, performs and evaluates nursing interventions and care. Provides wound and skin care to clients and provides education to clients and family / care givers related to wound care. Performs dressings and monitoring of designated drainage tubes. Collaborates with clients and their families / care givers in developing the care plan and encourages family participation in the development, implementation and ongoing modification of the care plan. Establishes a therapeutic relationship by demonstrating empathy, trust and respect, advocating for the client's rights to privacy, dignity and access to information, and by ensuring the client's choice and autonomy in decision-making and care planning. Coordinates nursing care for the client; sets priorities, assigns and delegates tasks to support staff, and makes referrals to the interprofessional care team according to established protocols and practice standards. Collaborates with members of the interprofessional care team including Physicians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Clinicians, Clinical Nurse Educators, and other health care professionals / providers in the identification and resolution of issues, adjustments to care plans as required, and in regard to changes in patient condition. Teaches clients and families / care givers about illness prevention, health restoration and health maintenance to help patients accomplish their health care goals. Assesses learning needs of the client and family / care giver; provides information and demonstration of care activities to support self-care. Plans and discusses referral information with patient and their families / care givers and, in collaboration with members of the interprofessional care team, initiates referrals to appropriate health care / community agencies. Documents assessments, nursing diagnosis, observations, interventions, patient / family responses, outcomes / evaluations, and referrals according to practice standards and Fraser Health procedures. Participates on nursing committees, care conferences and councils as assigned or as agreed to with the Manager. Participates in research and quality improvement activities by identifying patient care issues, collecting data, and identifying needs and recommendations for corrective action and changes to practices, procedures or protocols. Participates in and attends in-services and other educational programs. Identifies own learning goals and maintains and updates current clinical competence and knowledge within area of practice. Acts as a preceptor or mentor to assigned new nursing staff and students; shares information, demonstrates care activities, participates in orientation. Provides feedback to the Manager / delegate regarding the effectiveness of care programs, policy / clinical decision support tools (e.g. clinical pathways, standards, order sets and procedures), and equipment. Performs other related duties as required. Qualifications Education and Experience Current practicing registration as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM). One year of recent related experience with wound care, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Skills and Abilities Ability to complete initial and ongoing patient assessment (clinical and diagnostic reasoning) and provide nursing care through appropriate / prescribed technical, therapeutic, safety type interventions. Clinical proficiency with wound care best practices. Ability to communicate effectively with clients, families / care givers, the public, medical staff and members of the interprofessional care team using verbal, written and electronic communication means. Ability to promote person-centered care that demonstrates empathy for clients and families / care givers, sensitivity to diverse cultures and preferences, and patient advocacy. Ability to integrate and evaluate data from multiple sources to problem-solve effectively. Ability to teach and instruct clients and families / care givers about wound care essential to their health care and well-being. Ability to organize and prioritize work. Ability to collaborate with and promote cooperation among members of the interprofessional care team. Ability to use factual information, prior learning and basic principles and procedures to support nursing decisions and actions with relevant research-based evidence / evidence-informed practice. Ability to operate related equipment including relevant computer applications. Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.