Wound Care Nurse (Full Time)

At St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center, we are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to the communities we serve. We are seeking a dedicated Wound Care Nurse to join our clinical team and provide specialized, evidence-based wound care to patients with acute, chronic, and complex wounds.

The Wound Care Nurse is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating individualized wound care treatment plans to promote healing and prevent complications. Working collaboratively with physicians, nursing staff, rehabilitation services, and other members of the interdisciplinary team, this role serves as a clinical resource and educator to ensure best practices in wound prevention and management.

The ideal candidate is a compassionate, patient-focused registered nurse with strong clinical judgment, exceptional communication skills, and a passion for improving patient outcomes through quality wound care. If you are committed to excellence and making a meaningful impact in the lives of others, we invite you to become part of the St. Bernard Hospital team..

Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED or the combination of education, knowledge, skills, mental development, and relevant experience that enables performance of all aspects of the position.

Current Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Illinois.

Certification in Wound Care

Desirable Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or related field.

Required Experience:

Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience in nursing.

Desirable Experience:

Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a Skilled Care facility as a Treatment Nurse of Wound care nurse.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Follow patient identified “at risk” in admission by the Risk Assessment formula
• Analyze information in the patient’s record (e.g. present wound care orders) and pursue additional information (e.g. nutrition status, labs, and ADL participation).
• Document patient’s present condition upon admission, through clinical assessment and pictures.
• Collaborate with the wound care team (nurse and physician) to develop a plan of care to support patients needs and expected outcomes
• Review recommendations made by the Wound Care Manager and the physician for orders for preventative measures and/or treatment plan.
• Advise and instruct staff on current skin care protocol.
• Collaborate with the inter-disciplinary team regarding patient specific needs, e.g. dietician, physical therapy, speech therapy, and discharge planning.
• Promote continuity of care between the community and other institutions (e.g. Home Health, Nursing Home, Skilled Nursing facilities, Rehab Centers, etc.).
• Monitor patient’s healing progress through on-going assessment, including but not limited to, measurements, pictures, and description of the wound bed.
• Monitor for admission photograph of skin breakdown, including consent to photograph.
• Update nursing care plan.
• Monitor documentation of healing/deterioration of skin.
• Refer problems/changes in wound condition to the Manager of Wound Care or designee.
• Act as liaison with physicians, nursing staff, physical therapy, and other ancillary departments as they pertain to skin care.
• Participate in data collection for Quality Improvement programs, by identifying opportunities for improvement and develops a plan of corrective action and discuss the data with the Wound Care Manager and report results to the Director of Infection Prevention.
• Educate patients, families and staff as it relates to wound care.
• Participate in discharge planning.
• Assist Manager, as requested

A Roman Catholic facility founded by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and sponsored by Catholic Health International, St. Bernard Hospital aspires to live in the healing mission of Christ within the South Side community of Chicago. This mission calls us to care for the sick and promote the health of the residents in the community while witnessing the Christian values of respect, dignity, caring and compassion for all persons. In all matters, St. Bernard Hospital will show a special sensitivity to the culture of the people we serve and the unique needs of the poor and powerless.