The Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse (CWON) provides quality, cost-effective management of a caseload of inpatients, outpatients, home care, and long-term care patients in the Northwest Region who have complex wound or ostomy care needs.  Upon referral from physicians and other healthcare providers the CWON assesses, plans, implements and evaluates patient care. The CWON provides expert consultation, coordination of services and education for patients and families and the healthcare team to achieve optimal patient care and adequate staff knowledge of wound and ostomy care. The major clinical focus of this position varies to include the hospital, outpatient clinic, home care, and long-term care as needed.

• Wound and Ostomy Care:
  
  
  
  • Staffs hospital, outpatient chronic wound clinics, home health/hospice in multiple locations throughout the region.  
  
  
  • Assesses, examines, counsels, and determines treatment for prevention and healing of wounds and ostomy care.
  
  
  • Determines and orders appropriate topical products, compression therapy, sharp debridement, referrals to specialty providers, and labs and xrays under approved physician orders and protocols and based on established KPNW Certified Wound Ostomy Nurse standards of care within scope of practice. 
  
  
  • Organizes and plans patients ostomy care and rehabilitation through assessment, examination, pre-and post-operative teaching, counseling and recommending treatment and product use.
  
  
  • Acts as an expert resource for staff and utilizes knowledge in clinical areas of practice.
  
  
  
  


• Consults with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers in hospital, clinic, home health/hospice and skilled nursing facilities regarding wound, ostomy, and continence management for individual patients; recommends treatment modalities to promote healing, contain drainage, and promote skin integrity.


• Wound and Ostomy Care Education and Consultation:
  
  
  
  • Consults with contracted home health agencies, Kaiser Permanente utilization reviewer, and primary care clinicians regarding appropriate clinical wound, ostomy and continence care and utilization for home care and skilled nursing facility patients.
  
  
  • Provides formal education of nursing, medical, and other healthcare staff regarding wound and ostomy management. 
  
  
  • Actively participates/leads committees/task forces as needed. 
  
  
  • Educates team on financial implications of supply and equipment usage.
  
  
  • Develops state-of-the-art protocols, staff and patient written resources in collaboration with regional Wound supervisor and other KP CWOCNs.
  
  
  
  


• Consults with local outpatient materials management, pharmacy, reception staff regarding issues related to the delivery of effective wound/ostomy/continence care.


• Quality Management/Utilization:
  
  
  
  • Participates in quality management/improvement activities in the NW Region as appropriate, including occurrence reporting, focused studies, process and outcome measurement and continuous quality improvement projects.
  
  
  • Consults with DME, Materials Management regarding optimum use of supplies and equipment. 
  
  
  • Participates as a member of the CWOCN team, including team meeting and case conferences. 
  
  
  • Supports quality management plans at the UBT level. Performs other duties as assigned.