Oceanside, New York, United States
I am currently a CWOCN and head of Wound Care of a major Hospital in NYC. I hold my masters in executive leadership in healthcare systems, with over 10 years of leadership experience. As an executive in my field I have been in charge of all wound care products and resources, budgets for the department, coordination of in-services for the staff, and creation/coordination of wound care programs for the system. Also, I am a member of several hospital based and system wide committees, I am a nationally accredited preceptor for my field, I am an active volunteer within my community, and an educator.
I specialize in the care of patients with wounds, ostomies, or continence disorders. My primary responsibilities are to direct, coordinate, and evaluate patient care in the area(s) of my expertise. Specific functions include direct patient care, consultation, staff and patient education, and maintenance of an evidence-based practice through use of and participation in research studies. My recommendations for care management are evidence-based, cost-effective, and individualized for specific patient situations. I also coordinate patient bed placement, have interactions with different product representatives, and also assist with staff scheduling for my specialty. Also, I successfully created and implemented a Wound Care Champion program, in 2017 with 15 first year graduates
I provide patient care based on scientific principles/nursing theory and evidence-based practice. I recognize change in the patient’s condition and intervene appropriately. I prioritize nursing actions including reflecting patient needs, acuity, and desired outcomes. I implement physician orders accurately within appropriate time frames, I educate, and counsel patients and their families on wound care processes and issues.
In this role, I work independently and have authority, responsibility and accountability for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of wound, ostomy and continence care throughout inpatient and specialty areas. As the CWOCN Specialist, I serve as a consultant, provide direct care and education to highly complex patients; providing staff educational programs in this area of expertise. I maintain Skins Resource Nurse Program annually, participates in hospital wide committees and projects, and conducts National Data Nursing Quality Indicator surveys quarterly. As the CWOCN Specialist, my responsibility for providing specialized consultation on wound, ostomy and continence issues for patients, families, nurses and medical staff. I serve as a consultant in the management of patients with draining wounds, fistula and tubes, serves as a consultant for the treatment of patients with altered skin integrity due to pressure necrosis, drainage or incontinence. As the CWOCN Specialist, I have knowledge related to practice and procedures in the area of WOC nursing and discharge planning, knowledge of infection control, knowledge of adult learning principles and teaching strategies and ability to plan, develop, coordinate and teach didactic programs. Also, I successfully created and implemented a Wound Care Champion program, in 2017 with 40 first year graduates.
Balancing Wound and Ostomy supply budget, preceptor of nursing students, establishing and revising wound care policies and protocols, wound product management, specialty beds and Wound VAC management, creating and implementing in-services for RN, MD staff, and patients, wound care consultations, delegation of care to RN staff, creating wound care computer programs in conjunction with IT services, conducting meeting with medical and product reps to bring in or remove products from/to our inventory, teach classes to new hire RN's and incoming medical residents, and conduct interviews for potential new hires. In this current role, I saved the hospital over $800,000 through innovative ideas and monitoring of wound care supplies, specialty beds, and Wound VACs. As a Nurse Educator, I coordinate and support the assessing, planning and implementing and evaluating of clinical education services for the hospital. Some specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to staff development, which includes orientation and in-service, continuing education programs which assist employees to acquire, maintain, and increase competence in fulfilling their job expectations in accordance with current education standards, accreditation requirements, American Nursing Association standards for Nursing Professional Development, Continuing Education and Staff Development.