Wound Care - Nurse Practitioner (APRN) or Physician Assistant

Wound Care - Nurse Practitioner (APRN) or Physician Assistant

Position Summary: The Inpatient WOCN APRN is a highly skilled advanced practice nurse specializing in assessment, management, and prevention of complex wounds, ostomies, and continence-related conditions. This role provides expert consultation across inpatient units, delivering evidence-based care, promoting optimal patient outcomes, and supporting interdisciplinary collaboration. The WOCN APRN serves as a clinical leader, educator, and resource for patients, families, and healthcare staff.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Environment: Hospital inpatient setting with frequent interdisciplinary collaboration. Requires mobility between units and direct patient care activities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Clinical Consultation & Patient Care:
• Perform comprehensive wound assessments, including identification of wound etiology and accurate staging/classification.
• Develop and implement individualized wound care plans, including advanced dressing recommendations and treatment modalities.
• Lead pressure injury prevention initiatives, including risk assessment, staff guidance, and protocol implementation.
• Provide ostomy care services, including preoperative stoma site marking and postoperative management.
• Deliver ostomy education to patients and caregivers, ensuring competence in self-care prior to discharge.
• Troubleshoot complex ostomy complications and provide ongoing support to optimize patient outcomes.
• Collaboration & Interdisciplinary Care:
• Collaborate closely with hospitalists, surgical teams, nursing staff, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate comprehensive care plans.
• Participate in multidisciplinary rounds and case reviews to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Serve as a clinical resource for staff regarding best practices in wound, ostomy, and continence care.
• Education & Leadership:
• Provide formal and informal education to nursing staff, providers, and ancillary personnel on wound care, pressure injury prevention, and ostomy management.
• Collaborate with Nursing Education to provide education to clinical staff and help maintain competencies associated with wound care.
• Support onboarding and ongoing competency development related to WOCN practices.
• Contribute to patient and family education initiatives to improve health literacy and outcomes.

Key Competencies:

• Clinical expertise in wound, ostomy, and continence care
• Interdisciplinary collaboration
• Patient and staff education
• Quality improvement and outcomes management
• Strong communication and leadership skills

This role is integral to advancing patient care quality, reducing complications, and promoting best practices in wound and ostomy management across the inpatient setting.

Qualifications:

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Nursing (APRN required).
• Current APRN licensure in applicable state.
• Certification as a Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse (WOCN) required.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of clinical experience in wound and ostomy care, preferably in an inpatient setting.
• Strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in acute care or hospital-based consultation roles.
• Familiarity with quality improvement methodologies and data-driven practice.

Regular Standard Hours Per Week: 40

Schedule: Full-time (40 hours)