Position Summary:
To provide expertise in the management of wound, ostomy, or skin care in the Wound Center. Additionally, provides consultation to acute care patient care units. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, contributes professional nursing knowledge and skills in the provision and management of care to patients and their families. HBO unit is a monoplace chamber facility that serves outpatients. This unit administers hyperbaric oxygen therapy and diagnostic testing to referred patients.
Qualifications:
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Associate's Degree in Nursing
CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:
Registered Professional Nurse (RN) License Illinois upon hire and Certified Hyperbaric Registered Nurse (CHRN) (NBDHMT) within 3 years.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
1-3 years of experience in/with medical/surgical clinical setting; Basic knowledge of wound, ostomy, and skin care management; Demonstrated clinical expertise and ability to function without direct supervision.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:
Required English Skills: Advanced reading skills, Advanced writing skills, Advanced oral skills, Communication Skills, Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker interaction, Maintain confidential information, Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information, Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor, Basic computer knowledge: Uses word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail application, and web browser. Comfortable within a Windows OS and learning new applications.
Essential Functions:
- Clinical Excellence / Patient Care: Communicates patient care effectively. Performs safe and effective operation of the hyperbaric chambers and system components such as TcpO2 monitor. Administers hyperbaric oxygen therapy to patients as prescribed by the hyperbaric physician. Assists with monoplace patient prep. Provides technical expertise to physicians and staff. Processes / maintains appropriate level of hyperbaric supplies. Maintains equipment maintenance and inspection files. Calls physicians/offices to clarify physician orders. Assesses data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's educational requirements based on their age-specific needs and to provide the care needed. Ensures wound/ostomy/skin plan of care is understood by those in the continuum of care also providing patient services, i.e. Home Health, DME Company, and agencies in the continuum of patient care. Documents patient's response to interventions. Performs a thorough and accurate patient assessment to evaluate the patient's status, level of knowledge, determine readiness for education, plan and implement appropriate teaching strategies and assess the patient's response. Considers special patient needs when delivering nursing care. Evaluates patient/family cultural needs to promote comfort and compliance to prescribed regimens. Evaluates patient/family cognitive skills and adjusts education accordingly. Possesses knowledge and skills necessary to obtain adequate lab specimens for testing. Performs patient bedside lab testing and associated quality control in compliance with medical provider's orders and hospital lab procedures/policies. Performs department data collection, post treatment follow-up calls and quality reviews. Understands the NFPA guidelines specific to hyperbaric chambers.
- Provides effective and quality wound care education and documentation to ensure optimal level of care. Maintains knowledge of skin care, wound, and ostomy trends, standards, and education. Demonstrates knowledge of required nursing care for individual procedures/treatments. Provides accurate patient education and discharge instructions. Facilitates product evaluation for ostomy and wound/skin care products. Works collaboratively with staff nurses. Utilizes the nursing process by assessing the learner and teaching situations, formulating a plan for teaching, providing the education directly or by assisting other staff, and evaluating the teaching process. Timely documents teaching efforts and outcomes. Documents patient care and any changes in patient's status thoroughly and accurately. Documents patient/family education and assessment of patient/family learning. Assesses patients/family to desired educational method and includes that delivery method in education.
- Clinical Excellence / Safety / Professional Growth: Follows and enforces safety regulations. Follows all safety guidelines set forth by the NFPA guidelines regulating hyperbaric chambers. Follows all safety guidelines, procedures, and policies specific to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Attends UHMS symposiums or reviews literature to maintain current information on NFPA, OSHA, TJC, PVHO, and UHMS codes and facility credentialing requirements. Provides technical expertise to physicians and staff. Takes active role in initiating and completing safety education for staff, physicians, and patients. Identifies opportunities to improve patient, family, and staff teaching programs. Continues professional development. Demonstrates technical knowledge of equipment and supplies. Demonstrates knowledge of tests and procedures. Displays and maintains pharmacology knowledge. Reads current literature to maintain and develop knowledge base. Participates in education of other departmental and organizational personnel, as requested.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For more information: human.resources@carle.com.
Effective September 20, 2021, the COVID 19 vaccine is required for all new Carle Health team members. Requests for medical or religious exemption will be permitted.
