Eight Wound Care Nurse Job Responsibilities and Duties
From diagnosing diabetic foot issues and preventing infections to devising treatment plans and caring for pressure injuries, wound care nurses provide several vital services. The skills to lessen a patient’s discomfort and encourage healing are critical aspects of a wound care nurse responsibilities.
A wound care nurse is a clinical nurse who assesses and treats lacerations, puncture wounds, surgical wounds, pressure sores, ostomies, diabetic ulcers, and other integumentary system malfunctions. A wound care nurse’s responsibilities include managing wounds that take weeks to heal.
What are a Wound Care Nurse's Responsibilities and Duties?
Wound care nurses assess and treat patients who have complicated wounds, ostomies, or continence issues. They collaborate closely with members of the patient care team to ensure that tailored treatment plans are adhered to avoid illness or harm in the future.
A wound care nurse's responsibilities usually include:
Cleaning wounds to eliminate bacteria and debris and reduce infection risk.
Choosing the best treatment for a wound like regular cleaning, antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or surgery.
Bandaging the wounds by creating a barrier against microorganisms and changing the dressings regularly.
Collaborating with other patient care team members to decide the need for any additional therapies or adjuvant care.
Educating patients and caregivers on how to manage and dress wounds to aid healing following surgery.
Providing infection and injury prevention and pressure ulcer (bed sore) care education to patients and caregivers.
Writing orders to accelerate wound healing and prevent skin disintegration.
Completing forms for patient records and communicating with wound care physicians, primary care physicians and other members of the care team.
Certifications to Become Certified Wound Care Nurse
Wound care nurses must continuously develop their abilities regularly through continuing education classes and specialized clinical training. In addition, nurses with wound care expertise need to stay updated with changing care standards and improve their understanding of skin and wound treatment.
One way to deliver on these wound care responsibilities and to continue to learn nurses may consider ongoing training through education developed by practicing wound care physicians. The Vohra Nursing Certification program is recognized internationally and is an excellent opportunity to expand a nurse’s skills.
With the Vohra Wound Care Certification, a nurse will earn the Vohra Wound Certified Nurse (VWCN™) distinction and receive access to the leading Wound Care Education & Certification Program. This entire program is available with one affordable tuition payment. As a wound care nurse, you will benefit from 100% remote access and lifetime learning of all educational materials.
Conclusion
Wound care trained nurses are specialists in their profession. The wound care nurse’s responsibility includes the ability to provide high-quality treatment to a wide range of patients. Patient satisfaction skyrockets when they feel listened to, appreciated and cared for by a highly experienced and knowledgeable healthcare worker.