Responsibilities

The Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (WOC Nurse) is a registered nurse with certification in this specialty (CWOCN). He/she functions independently and collaboratively with physicians and nursing to provide specialized care for patients with wound, ostomy, and continence concerns in the acute care setting.

The WOC Nurse influences patient care both directly, through the provision of hands-on care, and indirectly, by serving as an educator, consultant, researcher, or administrator guiding the provision of optimal patient care to patients with wound, ostomy, or continence concerns. (WOCN, 2010). The CWOCN participates in patient care assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation for inpatients.

In this role, teaching and support is given to the patient and/or caregiver. The WOC Nurse's role includes care for stomas, complex wounds, fistulae, pressure ulcers, and fecal and urinary incontinence. The WOC Nurse provides specialized knowledge and skill to assist physicians and nursing staff with the management and teaching of patients with complex skin care needs, and guidance for selection of related product formulary.

The CWOCN also provides mentoring for hospital staff in relation to these issues and assists in setting guidelines for patient care. These services and processes are performed in accordance with standards of care and hospital guidelines.

The Wound Care Specialist Nurse will:

• Possess expert skills in evaluation, prevention, education, nutritional counseling and complex treatment modalities to the needs of patients
• Use evidence-based knowledge and research findings to guide practice and develop strategies to achieve positive outcomes for patients with acute/chronic wounds, ostomies, fistulas and other specific issues within the scope of the WOCN specialty.
• Provide leadership in the design of quality improvement initiatives to optimize patient outcomes and evaluate standards of care with consideration of regulatory and institutional benchmarks.
• Collaborate with other disciplines in caring for patients with wound ostomy, and continence issues.
• Support other disciplines within the organization as a resource, providing ongoing education related to the WOCN specialty.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• At least 2 years of nursing experience
• PA RN, BSN, BLS
• WOCN Certification OR completed an accredited wound, ostomy and continence nursing (WOCN) certification program with the intent to become certified within one year of program completion.

Conditions of Employment

Covid Vaccination is a requirement for employment at Jefferson for employees working at Jefferson's clinical entities or at the University. If you are not currently vaccinated you will be required to receive the vaccination prior to hire date if you are offered employment, unless you request and receive an approved medical or religious exemption from Jefferson.

Conditions of Employment

Since this position will require the selected candidate to engage in regular contact with children in the form of care, guidance, supervision or training, you will be required to meet the requirements of the Child Protective Services Act, including the Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare child abuse criminal background clearance, and an FBI finger print based federal criminal records check. The selected candidate will not be allowed to commence working until all three (3) are completed satisfactorily.

Closing Statement

Jefferson includes Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health, a dynamic university and health system with broad reach across the Delaware Valley. Jefferson is the second largest employer in Philadelphia and the largest health system in Philadelphia based on total licensed beds.

Through the merger of Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University in 2017, our University includes ten colleges and four schools. We are an NCAA Division II university and an R2 national doctoral university offering undergraduate and graduate-level programs that provide students with a forward-thinking education in architecture, business, design, engineering, fashion and textiles, health, medicine and social science.

Jefferson Health, the clinical arm of Thomas Jefferson University, has grown from a three-hospital academic health center in 2015, to an 18-hospital health system through mergers and combinations that include hospitals at Abington Health, Aria Health, Kennedy Health, Magee Rehabilitation and Einstein Healthcare Network. We have over 50 outpatient and urgent care centers; ten Magnet®-designated hospitals (recognized by the ANCC for nursing excellence); the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (one of only 70 in the country and one of only two in the region); and one of the largest faculty-based telehealth networks in the country. In 2021, Jefferson Health became the sole owner of HealthPartners Plan, a not-for-profit health maintenance organization in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We are the first health system regionally to create an aligned payer-provider partnership.

Jefferson's mission, vision and values create an organization that attracts the best and the brightest students, faculty, staff, and healthcare professionals, as well as the most visionary leaders to drive exceptional results.

• OUR MISSION: We improve lives.
• OUR VISION: Reimagining health, education and discovery to create unparalleled value
• OUR VALUES: Put People First, Be Bold & Think Differently and Do the Right Thing

As an employer, Jefferson maintains a commitment to provide equal access to employment. Jefferson values diversity and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, LGBTQ individuals, disabled individuals, and veterans.