Treatment Nurse

Treating skin reactions

Preventing skin breakdown

Treating and managing vascular ulcers, pressure ulcers and diabetic ulcers

Initiating preventative measures

Providing comprehensive wound management, including reducing causative factors, controlling odor, assessing nutritional needs, and providing and applying topical therapies

Educating the patient, the patient’s family, and any other support persons on care techniques

Assessing and treating draining wounds and fistulae

Designing pouch systems for draining wounds and fistulae

Implementing preventative actions to reduce the incidences of pressure ulcers and vascular ulcers

Providing instruction on proper wound dressing

Educating the patient, the patient’s family, and other support persons on ulcer prevention and treatmentWOCs nurses specializes in ostomy care are skilled to provide inpatient and outpatient care, as well as pre- and post-operative education, support and counseling for individuals who undergo surgery for colostomies, ileostomies, or urostomies. Their scope of practice often includes:

Ostomy Care

Providing self-care, diet, and lifestyle education and support

Preventing peristomal/stomal complications

Providing rehabilitative care

Assessing stoma site marking so as to decrease long-term complications and encourage pouching system adherence

Reviewing and modifying pouch system problems

Addressing and preventing peristomal skin complicationsWOC nurses specializes in urinary and fecal incontinence often work in an inpatient acute setting. The WOCN will provide a wide range of services that address causative factors, restorative strategies, and lifestyle/quality of life issues. Their scope of practice often includes:

Incontinence Care

Selecting and recommending collection devices or undergarments

Providing instruction on pelvic muscles exercises

Counseling the patient, the patient’s family, and other support persons on hygiene and skin care

Providing instruction on self-catheterization

Identifying contributing factors and suggesting dietary and environmental modificationsWOC nurses will have advanced training in nursing, along with post-graduate or post-baccalaureate certificates in wound, ostomy, and continence care through educational programs that can be completed through a combination of home study and on-site experience.

Job Type: Full-time