Registered Nurse (RN) - Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Clinical Nurse (WOCN)
Company: Wellstar Health System, Inc.
Location: Brooks
Posted on: June 4, 2025
Job Description:
Facility: Spalding Medical Center
Job Summary:The Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Clinical Nurse (WOCN)
functions under the direction of the Nurse Manager and provides
acute and rehabilitative care for people with select disorders of
the GI, GU and Integumentary systems. The WOCN serves as a resource
to nursing and medical staff and is responsible for delivering
in-depth, comprehensive patient care in complex multiple problem
patient care situations. The WOCN can independently perform job
functions.The WOCN is a licensed caregiver who practices in a
competent manner, upholds the voice of the patient, system policies
and procedures while supporting service excellence goals in the
clinical environment that employs a shared governance model.
Clinical practice is executed using best evidence through
continuous learning from formal education; active reading of
professional literature; and reflective practice. He / She serves
as a partner in care anticipating and providing for the patient
care needs of his/her patients, families and significant others.
Role specific competencies, responsibilities, and practice are
guided by the WellStar Professional Practice Model, 5-Star
Nursing.It is expected that the WOCS nurse is certified, licensed,
knowledgeable, and upholds the practice of nursing as outlined by
the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the
Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the
American Nurses Association. As a member of the patient services
team, it is expected the individual upholds the voice of the
patient, system policies and procedures while supporting service
excellence goals.Core Responsibilities and Essential
Functions:Exemplary Practice and Outcomes
- Acts as a consultant to the physician, providing evaluations of
patients and developing individualized, evidence-based plans of
care that address wounds, fistulas, ostomies, and continence issues
at the specialist level.
- Responds to the physician consult request by writing orders
within the WOCN scope of practice and standing orders for other
nurses to follow. Determines type and frequency of wound/ostomy
care provided to the patient using their expert judgment, including
modifications as the patients condition changes Upon receiving
physician order for consult, marks patients for ostomy surgery,
selecting the best and alternative sites for the surgeons
consideration, provides education to the patient and family pre-
and post-op and guidance for psychosocial, sexual and body image
adaption to promote optimal client outcomes.
- Performs the Nursing Process (assessment; diagnosis;
identification of outcomes; planning; implementation and
evaluation) in the performance of clinical care using
evidence-based practice; analytical/critical thinking insuring that
care is individualized; coordinating care through effective
partnerships; caring is central to achieve optimal patient care
outcomes
- Provides relationship-based care delivery patient-centered care
by partnering with the patient and significant others (as
appropriate) using comprehensive hand-off communication processes;
interdisciplinary evaluation and communication (i.e., unit rounds,
case reviews, peer review, etc.); just in time and planned patient
teaching; keeping the patient informed using appropriate
communication tools and making the patients goals the focus of the
plan of care.
- Practices using current clinical practice standards with a
focus on safety and quality When performing duties in outpatient
Wound Care and Hyperbaric Unit:
- Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Healing
Strategies for wound care and the role of HBO therapy, and the
different approved clinical indications and treatment protocols for
HBO treatment.
- Delivers care to the patient immediately prior to, during, and
immediately following the HBO treatment that is consistent with
existing policies and Healing Strategies within his/her scope of
practice and documents all aspects of that care.
- Monitors and ensures the proper delivery of treatment gas as
ordered.
- Monitors the patients continually during treatments for
symptoms of oxygen intolerance, claustrophobia, hypoglycemic
reactions, decompression sickness or any other adverse reaction to
HBO treatments.
- Under the direction of the program manager or designee,
appropriately intervenes in the event of an adverse reaction and
follows established protocols.
- Demonstrates competence in reinforcing age specific patient and
family education on common topics related to the HBO therapy and
related underlying disease processes.
- Demonstrates competence in performing ordered treatments
including but not limited to vital signs, blood sugars, and
emergency procedures, consistent with existing policies and within
his/her scope of practice.
- Documents required elements of each treatment in a clear,
concise manner that includes a description of the chamber settings,
duration of treatment, patient response to the procedure, and any
other relevant observations.Chamber Operations
- Demonstrates and applies basic knowledge about HBOT chamber
operations to ensure efficacy of treatment and safety of the
patient and those in the immediate area.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the basic physiological
principles/concepts of the HBO treatment and incorporates them into
the treatment process.
- Operates controls to pressurize and depressurize the chamber
according to prescribed policies for clinical indications and
physician orders.
- Maintains accurate logs and records of the time, pressures,
depths, etc. of chamber operations according to established
protocols.
- Performs maintenance of the hyperbaric chamber (s) and related
support systems under the guidance of the Program Director/Safety
Coordinator.
- Cleans chamber following each treatment, according to
recommendations of manufacturer, and in accordance with established
facility infection control policies.
- Maintains emergency equipment and supplies located in the HBO
area.
- Documents equipment checks as required by established
policies.Teamwork and Collaboration
- The WOCN serves as clinical expert in various hospital
committees, community groups and organizations (United Ostomy
Association, Diabetic Outpatient Clinic and local home care
agencies); leads outcome evaluations including quarterly NDNQI
pressure ulcer prevalence; participates in improvement initiatives
related to WOC nursing practice; evaluates and develops product
formularies and algorithms to support best practices for the
prevention and treatment of wound, ostomy and continence conditions
and facilitates the needs of the bariatric population with
specialty bed management.
- Coordinates the delivery and documentation of safe quality
patient care which includes promotion of interdisciplinary
communication and regular interdisciplinary planning/rounds;
completion of timely documentation and promotion of a respectful,
inclusive clinical environment
- Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a
manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment
and retention of all healthcare team members.
- Participates and supports performance improvement inclusive of
all stakeholders, research and research utilization to promote
safe, quality patient care including initiating and/or leading such
activities as well as, promoting an inter/intra-disciplinary
process and actively supports/participates in shared governance at
all levels in the system.Professional Development
- Ensures patient/family/staff confidentiality and corporate
compliance for self (and accountability for team members)
requirements including completing all required mandatory education
and proficiencies. Serves as a preceptor (or mentor) for other
professional nurses (and staff or students for all disciplines) to
ensure that there is a current and future qualified workforce;
modeling the professional practice of nursing and creating a
healthy work environmentEvidence Based Practice and Research
- Promotes Evidence based practice, nursing research and
performance improvement in nursing.
- Participates in activities such as value analysis as part of
the decision-making process in evaluating patient care
products.
- Upholds all health care system/organizational policies and
procedures and clinical competencies put forth by this job
description and professional association including legal,
regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards ensuring by
way of example, such goals as TJC Patient Safety Goals and WellStar
Health Systems safety absolutes
- Participates in data collection, poses relevant clinical
questions to advance evidence-based practice.
- Consults appropriate experts and uses appropriate resources,
data, and evidence to address practice questions.Resources and
Support
- Proactively plans for the care of patients across the care
continuum in the course of giving direct patient care.
- Participates in the development of protocols and procedures
when called upon or through self-initiation in collaboration with
care managers and other members of the health care team to achieve
best practice outcomes (i.e., decrease in re-admission rates;
avoidable days; adverse events; etc).
- Supports efficient and effective use of human and material
resources. Precepts specialty students (WOCN Program) and Nurse
Practitioner students from Emory University WOCN Program, as well
as KSU and distance learning students from across the United
States.
- Provides education and orientation to new hires and at
continuing education opportunities to existing nurses and NCAs,
providing formal and informal education to all levels of staff to
appropriately manage patients with wound, ostomy, and continence
issues.Required Minimum Education:
- Graduate of an accredited/approved school of nursing
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) from an accredited school
of nursing Preferred and
- Nursing education from an accredited school of wound, ostomy,
and continence nursing (WOCN) program and national certification in
clinical specialty area Preferred and
- When performing duties in outpatient wound care with hyperbaric
unit National certification in the area specialty of Certified
Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) by the National Board of Diving
& Hyperbaric Medical Technology PreferredRequired Minimum
License(s) and Certification(s):All certifications are required
upon hire unless otherwise stated.
- Reg Nurse (Single State) or RN - Multi-state Compact
- Basic Life Support (BLS) with the American Heart
AssociationAdditional License(s) and Certification(s):
- National certification in area of specialty Upon Hire
PreferredRequired Minimum Experience:
- Minimum 3 years as a staff nurse in an acute care setting
RequiredRequired Minimum Skills:
- Ability to read, write and speak English language, optimize the
use of technology to support clinical care and holds basic computer
skills;
- Strong interpersonal, collaborative skills along with customer
service skills required;
- Ability to function in a fast paced environment and respond to
emergencies using a decisive, composed and respectful manner;
- Possesses excellent time management skills;
- practices nursing using evidence and analytical skills along
with strong critical thinking skills;
- Knowledgeably upholds the practice of nursing as outlined by
the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the
Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the
American Nurses Association.
Keywords: Wellstar Health System, Inc., Atlanta , Registered Nurse (RN) - Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Clinical Nurse (WOCN), Healthcare , Brooks, Georgia
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