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RN Wound Clinic

Job Description

 

Registered Nurse (RN) – Outpatient Wound Care Center

 

I. POSITION SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for delivering high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to patients with acute and chronic wounds in an outpatient wound care center. The RN functions as an integral member of the interdisciplinary wound care team and collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, program leadership, and clinical support staff to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

The RN demonstrates clinical competency in wound assessment, wound management, treatment implementation, patient education, care coordination, and monitoring of wound healing progress. The nurse is accountable for maintaining accurate clinical documentation, supporting clinic productivity, promoting patient satisfaction, and ensuring compliance with established clinical standards, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.

The RN is expected to demonstrate ownership of assigned responsibilities, maintain clinical proficiency, contribute to operational efficiency, and actively participate in achieving the center's clinical and operational performance goals.

 

II. ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

 

A. Clinical Assessment and Wound Management

• Perform comprehensive nursing assessments, including review of medical history, medications, allergies, comorbidities, vascular status, nutritional status, and factors affecting wound healing.
• Complete accurate wound assessments, including measurements, tissue characteristics, wound bed appearance, drainage, odor, periwound condition, and signs of infection.
• Perform wound measurements and documentation at established intervals and according to organizational protocols.
• Implement physician-directed treatment plans and provide appropriate wound care interventions within RN scope of practice.
• Demonstrate competency in wound cleansing, dressing selection and application, compression therapy, negative pressure wound therapy, and other wound management modalities as applicable.
• Assist physicians and advanced practice providers with wound debridement and other procedures within scope of practice and demonstrated competency.
• Monitor patient response to treatment and promptly communicate concerns, complications, or lack of healing progress to the treating provider.
• Identify barriers to wound healing and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop appropriate interventions.
• Demonstrate knowledge of diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, arterial wounds, pressure injuries, surgical wounds, and other complex wound conditions.
• Demonstrate competency in hyperbaric oxygen therapy patient preparation, monitoring, and safety procedures when assigned and appropriately trained.
• Maintain strict adherence to infection prevention, patient safety, and clinical practice standards.

 

B. Patient Outcomes and Quality of Care

The RN is accountable for supporting measurable patient outcomes through consistent clinical practice and proactive care coordination.

Responsibilities include:

• Promote wound healing through timely implementation of prescribed treatment plans and evidence-based interventions.
• Monitor and evaluate wound healing progress and identify patients who are not progressing as expected.
• Ensure wound measurements and clinical documentation accurately reflect patient progress.
• Recognize early signs of infection, deterioration, and potential complications.
• Communicate changes in wound status to the provider and ensure appropriate follow-up.
• Educate patients on treatment adherence, nutrition, glucose management, offloading, pressure redistribution, compression therapy, and home wound care.
• Reinforce the importance of keeping scheduled appointments and completing prescribed treatments.
• Identify patients at risk for missed appointments or treatment nonadherence and implement appropriate follow-up interventions.
• Participate in quality improvement activities aimed at improving healing rates, reducing complications, and enhancing patient satisfaction.
• Support appropriate discharge planning and transition of care when wound healing goals are achieved.

Expected outcome: The RN consistently contributes to improved wound healing, reduced complications, patient engagement, and successful completion of the prescribed plan of care.

 

C. Clinic Productivity and Operational Efficiency

The RN is responsible for managing clinical assignments efficiently while maintaining quality and patient safety.

Responsibilities include:

• Prepare clinical treatment areas and ensure rooms are adequately stocked before patient appointments.
• Complete patient intake, clinical assessments, wound measurements, treatments, and documentation within established workflow expectations.
• Maintain timely patient rooming and treatment processes to minimize unnecessary delays.
• Anticipate patient care needs and prepare appropriate supplies and equipment before procedures.
• Coordinate with providers and clinical support staff to maintain efficient patient flow.
• Complete assigned clinical responsibilities within expected appointment and treatment timeframes.
• Minimize delays related to incomplete documentation, missing supplies, or lack of preparation.
• Maintain awareness of daily patient volume, scheduled procedures, and clinic operational priorities.
• Assist with patient scheduling coordination and follow-up activities as appropriate.
• Communicate staffing, scheduling, equipment, or workflow concerns to leadership promptly.
• Demonstrate flexibility and teamwork to support clinic operations during periods of increased patient volume.

Productivity expectations:

• Complete assigned patient care responsibilities in accordance with daily clinic volume and staffing expectations.
• Maintain efficient room turnover and patient flow.
• Complete documentation during or immediately following patient encounters whenever possible.
• Avoid preventable delays in treatments, procedures, and patient discharge.
• Demonstrate consistent availability and readiness to support the clinical schedule.
• Meet established departmental productivity and operational goals without compromising patient safety or quality of care.

 

D. Documentation and Regulatory Compliance

• Complete accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Document wound assessments, measurements, treatments, patient response, education, and communication with providers.
• Ensure documentation supports the medical necessity of services provided.
• Follow established policies regarding wound photography, treatment documentation, and clinical record completion.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, infection prevention standards, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Follow organizational policies and clinical protocols related to wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
• Maintain required licensure, certifications, annual education, and clinical competencies.
• Participate in audits, chart reviews, quality assurance activities, and regulatory readiness initiatives.
• Correct identified documentation deficiencies within established timeframes.

 

E. Patient Experience and Education

• Provide compassionate, respectful, and individualized patient care.
• Establish therapeutic relationships that promote trust and patient engagement.
• Explain wound care procedures, treatment plans, and expectations in language patients can understand.
• Evaluate patient understanding using appropriate teach-back techniques.
• Address patient concerns promptly and escalate unresolved issues appropriately.
• Promote patient satisfaction through effective communication, responsiveness, and professionalism.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and respect for individual patient needs.
• Support patients and caregivers in understanding their role in achieving successful wound healing.

 

F. Teamwork, Leadership, and Staff Accountability

The RN is expected to demonstrate personal accountability and contribute to a professional, collaborative clinical environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Demonstrate ownership of assigned patient care responsibilities from initial assessment through completion of the visit.
• Maintain professional conduct and respectful communication with coworkers, providers, patients, and leadership.
• Complete assigned duties without requiring repeated reminders or unnecessary supervision.
• Communicate patient care concerns and operational barriers promptly.
• Assist coworkers appropriately while maintaining responsibility for individual assignments.
• Participate in staff meetings, educational activities, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Maintain competency in assigned clinical procedures and demonstrate willingness to learn new wound care technologies and treatment modalities.
• Follow direction from clinical leadership and demonstrate accountability for performance expectations.
• Report safety concerns, incidents, near misses, and deviations from established procedures.
• Accept constructive feedback and demonstrate measurable improvement when performance deficiencies are identified.
• Support cross-training and maintain flexibility to assist with other clinic responsibilities when needed.

III. REQUIRED CLINICAL COMPETENCIES

The RN must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Comprehensive patient assessment and clinical history review.
• Wound identification, classification, measurement, and documentation.
• Recognition of infection and wound deterioration.
• Wound cleansing, dressing application, and treatment implementation.
• Compression therapy and management of venous ulcers.
• Diabetic foot wound assessment and patient education.
• Pressure injury assessment and prevention.
• Negative pressure wound therapy.
• Vascular assessment and identification of compromised perfusion.
• Patient education and discharge planning.
• Infection prevention and clinical safety practices.
• Electronic medical record documentation.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy safety and monitoring, when assigned.

Competencies must be maintained through initial orientation, annual validation, ongoing education, and demonstrated clinical performance.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred, subject to organizational requirements.

Licensure:

• Current, unrestricted RN license in the state of practice.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Experience:

• Previous RN experience required or preferred according to organizational hiring standards.
• Wound care, ambulatory care, medical-surgical, diabetes management, or hyperbaric experience preferred but not required
• Experience with electronic medical records preferred.

Certifications:

• Wound care certification (WCC, CWCN, CWCA, or CWS) preferred but not required.
• Willingness to obtain additional wound care certification when required by organizational policy.

V. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong clinical judgment and critical-thinking abilities.
• Knowledge of wound healing principles and evidence-based wound management.
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and appropriately escalate concerns.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple patient care responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to quality improvement, patient safety, and operational excellence.
• Ability to accept responsibility for individual performance and outcomes.

VI. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, reach, and assist with patient positioning.
• Ability to lift and transport clinical supplies and equipment within established guidelines.
• Ability to perform repetitive clinical procedures and maintain appropriate infection prevention practices.
• Ability to function effectively in a fast-paced outpatient clinical environment.

 

VII. OVERALL PERFORMANCE STANDARD

The Registered Nurse is a critical member of the outpatient wound care team and is expected to demonstrate clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and professional accountability.

Successful performance requires the ability to balance quality patient care with clinic productivity, maintain accurate documentation, support positive wound healing outcomes, and contribute to a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement.

The RN is accountable for the quality and timeliness of assigned responsibilities and is expected to consistently demonstrate initiative, professionalism, reliability, and commitment to the mission of providing exceptional wound care.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may be modified based on operational needs, organizational policies, applicable laws, and the scope of nursing practice.

Department: Wound Care

Hours: Full time, 40 hours/week

Shift: 1st

Required: ADN, RN License state of IL, BLS or CPR within 90 days of hire

Pay: Based on experience, starting at $33.73

Responsibilities

Accurately completes the superbill and ensures that all orders and charges are initiated accurately., Assesses, determines classification, and measures wounds accurately and in accordance with policy., Assesses compliance to the Clinical Pathway and communicates to the Physician., Completes new patient review form and participate in weekly meeting., Completes the four week reviews in the Multi-Disciplinary Plan of Care and communicates findings with Physician. Revises Plan of Care as indicated and consistent with Clinical Pathways, Documents a plan of care, in collaboration with Physician, for all assigned patients., Formulates desired outcomes specific to patient’s problems and Wound Healing Center protocols., Identifies patient care situations that require intervention, implement nursing actions and evaluate responses., Implements wound care and protocols as clinically indicated., In collaboration with the Physician and other Wound Healing Center employees, revises the plan of care and continuously reassesses and evaluates until desired outcome is obtained., Initiates a nursing assessment of patient’s condition upon admission., Records assessment data in an orderly fashion and communicates pertinent information.

Requirements

ADN (Required)BLS or CPR certification (within 90 days of hire) - Sarah Bush Lincoln, RN-Registered Nurse - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Compensation

Estimated Compensation Range

$33.73 - $52.28

Pay based on experience