The Treatment Registered Nurse (Treatment Nurse) is responsible for providing specialized care to residents in a skilled nursing setting, focusing on skin treatments, wound care, injury management, and specific treatment procedures. This role will assess and monitor facility residents' skin and effectively coordinate and provide treatments for skin conditions in collaboration with the physician and interdisciplinary team. The Treatment Nurse takes the lead in developing resident care plans related to skin needs and plays a pivotal role in promoting healing, preventing infection, and enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.
Accountabilities
1. Conduct comprehensive skin assessments on all residents upon admission, re-admission, and return from extended leave of absence, documenting any skin issues.
2. Ensure that all skin conditions are identified and documented on the nursing assessment upon admission.
3. Complete a progress note upon identification of any skin problem and/or pressure ulcer and corresponding risk management reporting.
4. Notify the physician promptly of any new or worsening skin conditions and ensure treatment orders are in place.
5. Administer daily treatments as prescribed, and photograph/measure skin conditions and issues for new residents and weekly thereafter.
6. Develop, implement, and revise individualized care plans for skin conditions and pressure injuries, adjusting based on treatment response.
7. Perform wound assessment, reassessment, and skin management for all residents. Evaluate wounds and other skin conditions for infections and other complications.
8. Develop skin care programs to prevent skin breakdown.
9. Complete skin rounds with physician(s) and wound doctor.
10. Act as a resource person to physicians, nursing, and other facility staff.
11. Communicate with the DON, physician, and facility staff of any new skin issues or decline observed with pressure injuries or deep tissue injuries, as well as skin issues that have been resolved or healed.
12. Lead the weekly wound meeting, discussing current facility wounds, to include progress or decline, treatments, and other pressure reducing actions taken.
13. Participate actively in facility meetings as required (e.g., Quality Assurance Performance Improvement, Interdisciplinary Team, etc.) and quality improvement initiatives.
14. Provide education to residents, their families, and facility staff on wound care, infection prevention, and pressure injury care/prevention for individuals with limited mobility and on the products and interventions required for skin healing and maintenance.
15. Provide in-services on wound prevention, wound care, ostomy care, and incontinence management.
16. Stay current with changes and new advances/treatment in wound care, and has a good understanding of treatments recommended for different types of skin conditions.
17. Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
