RN, Wound Care Nurse Practitioner (Exempt)

Position Description: Wound Care Nurse Practitioner

Job Title:              Wound Care Nurse Practitioner          Department:  Wound Care/Surgical Services

Supervisor:         CCO /Surgical Services Director  FLSA Status:        Exempt

Job Summary

The Wound Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides specialized advanced practice nursing care to inpatient and outpatient populations presenting with acute, chronic, complex, or slow-healing wounds. Operating within North Texas Medical Center (NTMC). The Nurse Practitioner evaluates, diagnoses, treats, and manages patients referred for specialized wound management. The role collaborates closely with primary care providers, hospitalists, surgical services, case managers, dieticians, and physical therapy to deliver continuous, evidence-based, multidisciplinary care.

Summary of Essential Job Functions

Clinical Assessment & Diagnosis: Conduct comprehensive physical assessments, medical history reviews, and wound evaluations (including vascular status, tissue viability, infection, and pain assessments) for inpatient and outpatient populations across age spectrums.

Wound Care Management & Procedures: Perform advanced non-surgical and bedside wound procedures in accordance with clinical privileges, including conservative sharp debridement (subcutaneous tissue, muscle, fascia), high-pressure water jet debridement, topical/infiltration local anesthesia, wound biopsies, chemical cauterization of granulation tissue, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), unna boot application, and multilayer compression therapy.

Treatment Planning & Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Formulate, implement, and monitor individualized care plans; collaborate with attending physicians, hospitalists, dieticians, physical therapists, case management, and respiratory therapy to address underlying etiologies and promote holistic healing.

Documentation & Compliance: Complete timely, detailed, and accurate EHR documentation including wound measurements, staging, photography, treatment efficacy, and coding/billing specifications. Maintain adherence to hospital policies, CMS regulations, and accreditation standards (e.g., CIHQ).

Patient & Family Education: Educate patients and caregivers on wound maintenance, dressing changes, infection prevention, nutrition, offloading, and post-discharge home care.

Quality Improvement & Safety: Participate in departmental continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives, nursing-sensitive indicator tracking (e.g., pressure injury prevention, infection rates), and safety huddles.

Basic Skills

• Advanced clinical judgment and expertise in advanced wound management techniques.
• Proficiency with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and clinical documentation.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Education and Work Experience Required

Education: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited Advanced Practice Registered Nurse program.

Licensure: Current Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) / Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) license in the State of Texas.

Certifications:

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification required.
• Board certification in Wound Care required or obtained within 6 months of hire (e.g., Certified Wound Specialist [CWS/CWSP] through ABWM, or Wound Care Certified [WCC] through NAWC).

Experience

• Minimum of 2–3 years of clinical experience as a Nurse Practitioner; and
• Dedicated experience in acute/chronic wound management or outpatient wound clinic setting strongly preferred;
• Wound care certification strongly preferred.

Language Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and move equipment up to 50 lbs. alone and assist with patients or equipment up to 500 lbs. with assistance.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.

●             Ability to push, pull, lift, bend, stoop, kneel, twist, and reach above shoulder level