About Us: We’re Maimonides Health, Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 250,000 patients each year through the system’s 3 hospitals, 1800 physicians and healthcare professionals, more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. At Maimonides Health, our core values H.E.A.R.T drives everything we do. We uphold and maintain Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork to empower our talented team, engage our respective communities and adhere to Planetree's philosophy of patient-centered care. The system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties; Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children's Hospital, Brooklyn's only children's hospital and only pediatric trauma center. Maimonides' clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including its Heart and Vascular Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Boneand Joint Center, and Cancer Center. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health and a major clinical training site for SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Overview:
The Wound Ostomy Continence (WOC) nurse serves as a clinical resource; provides direct patient care and consultation for patients with acute and chronic wounds such as complex draining wounds, fistulae, pressure ulcers, as well as venous, vascular and diabetic wounds. The WOC nurse also provides these services for patients with selective disorders, including GI, GU, percutaneous tubes, ostomies and continence disorders.
Responsibilities:
- Utilizes the nursing process when directing or delivering care to patients with WOC needs including assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning and implementation of treatment plan (e.g., coordination of care delivery, health teaching and promotion, consultation), and evaluation.
- Performs physical, psychosocial, clinical assessment, and utilizes therapeutic communication skills to determine individual patient needs and expected outcomes.
- Participates in Skin Care Committees or task forces related to wound, ostomy, and continence issues.
Wound/Skin Care
- Provides consultation for patients with altered skin integrity (e.g., pressure ulcers, non-pressure wounds, fistulae) to develop individualized plans of care and attain expected outcomes.
- Provides guidance to staff in implementing skin care protocols to identify, control, or eliminate etiologic factors for skin breakdown, including selection of appropriate support surfaces.
- Provides appropriate education to patients, caregivers, and staff regarding skin care, wound management, care of percutaneous tubes, and draining wound/fistulae management.
- Validates pressure ulcer data collection for NDNQI nursing quality indicators (e.g. pressure ulcers and restraint use).
Ostomy Care
- Provides pre- and postoperative education to patients and caregivers who are undergoing ostomy surgery, with consideration of the need for physical and psychological adaptation.
- Marks the stoma site preoperatively by determining the appropriate site for stoma placement with consideration of the patient's anatomical markings, physical capabilities, and lifestyle.
- Assesses the stoma and stoma functioning and initiates appropriate procedures for stoma care (e.g. measures/fits a pouching system, teaches care of stoma/peristomal skin and pouch).
- Provides appropriate educational information to patients, including postoperative and discharge instructions about care, referrals, and supply needs.
- Serves as a resource for patients after discharge through telephone consultation or outpatient services.
Continence Care
- Identifies risk factors for urinary or fecal continence disorders and implements a preventive treatment plan.
- Assesses patients with urinary and/or fecal continence disorders.
- Establishes an appropriate management program to include dietary and fluid management; indwelling catheter management; recommendations regarding containment/absorptive products and devices and skin care; and education and counseling for patients/caregivers.
- Identifies patients requiring referral for assessment/management of complex urinary or fecal continence disorders.
Education
- Participates in developing and implementing standards and protocols, based on current national guidelines, to deliver care to patients with the following:
-
Urinary or intestinal disorders resulting in the need for an ostomy.
-
Conditions requiring wound management.
-
Impaired or altered skin integrity.
-
Urinary and/or fecal continence issues.
- Assists the nursing and medical staff in maintaining current knowledge and competence in WOC care by providing the following:
-
Formal or informal continuing education programs.
-
Clinical rounds.
-
Lunch and learn sessions.
-
Orientation sessions.
-
Collaborative practice committees.
- Attends continuing education programs related to WOC nursing to maintain current knowledge and skills.
Research
- Collaborates with leadership and multidisciplinary clinical practice teams to establish protocols, which support best practices to achieve optimal clinical benefits for patients needing WOC care.
- Maintains and submits required activity and statistical reports to the appropriate department supervisor.
Administrative Duties
- Contributes to the selection of cost-effective supplies and equipment related to WOC care, which might need to be individualized for different units/departments.
- Indicates an essential job function
___________________________________________________________________________________
-
Seeks opportunities for professional growth.
-
Demonstrates and supports the organization's mission, values, and goals.
-
Collaborates with community resources and organizations.
-
Perform other related duties as required.
-
Maintains/demonstrates knowledge and skills to perform competently as required by Maimonides Medical Center or state board of nursing.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Qualifications:
Education:
BSN required; MS preferred
Two to four years of recent, relevant nursing experience.
Graduation from a WOCN-accredited wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing education program.
License and certification:
Current NYS licensure as RN required
Current certification in tri-specialty or bi-specialty (CWOCN or CWON) by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board required.
Current CPR.
Experience:
Minimum of five years of recent clinical experience and expertise in the care of assigned patient populations.
For in house transfers evidence of overall score of 3 or greater in the most recent Appraisal for Assessment/Intervention Category and Coordination of Care Category.
Skills:
Speaks, reads and writes English to the extent required by the position.
Evidence of acute assessment skills, critical thinking and ability to develop and implement appropriate plan of care.
Ability to integrate and coordinate multiple health services/resources for patients and family members.
Demonstrated knowledge of consultative process in working with all members of the Health Care Team.
Ability to perform consultations as requested by members of the Health Care Team.
Ability to research methodology.
Excellent oral communication skills and interpersonal skills
Pay Range: USD $66.69 - USD $66.69 /Yr. Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: Maimonides Medical Center (MMC) is an equal opportunity employer.
