About this role
Clinical Prevention RN, for NHC HealthCare Bluffton
Qualifications:
- Graduate from an accredited nursing program
- Current South Carolina Registered Nurse (RN) license
- Compact License
- Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience with geriatric patients'
- Exhibits leadership skills
Position Highlights:
The Clinical Prevention RN is a specialized nursing role responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and supporting clinical prevention initiatives within the long-term care center. The Clinical Prevention RN focuses primarily on skin integrity/wound prevention and fall prevention, with an emphasis on early identification of risk, implementation of preventive interventions, staff education, clinical monitoring, data tracking, and continuous quality improvement.
The Clinical Prevention RN works collaboratively with the Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Unit Managers, MDS, Therapy, Restorative Nursing, providers, CNAs, and interdisciplinary team members to promote resident safety, prevent avoidable complications, and improve clinical outcomes.
Primary Responsibilities
Wound Prevention & Skin Integrity
Conduct routine skin integrity surveillance and identify residents at increased risk for pressure injuries and other skin impairments.
Participate in and/or coordinate weekly wound rounds.
Maintain an accurate and current wound report for the center.
Monitor wound status, measurements, location, treatment orders, and progression.
Review documentation related to wounds and skin integrity for completeness and accuracy.
Monitor compliance with individualized wound prevention interventions and care plans.
Review Braden assessments and identify residents requiring additional prevention measures.
Collaborate with nursing staff, CNAs, therapy, dietary, providers, and wound-care specialists regarding residents at risk for skin breakdown.
Identify trends involving pressure injuries, skin tears, moisture-associated skin damage, and other skin concerns.
Assist with development and implementation of individualized prevention strategies.
Monitor the availability and appropriate use of pressure-relieving devices, cushions, specialty mattresses, heel protection, positioning devices, and other prevention equipment.
Provide staff education regarding skin inspections, repositioning, incontinence care, nutrition/hydration, pressure injury prevention, and timely reporting of changes in condition.
Participate in wound-related QAPI/PIP initiatives and assist with development of corrective interventions when indicated.
Communicate significant wound changes or concerns to the appropriate nurse, provider, wound-care professional, and DON.
II. Fall Prevention Program
Serve as the center's designated Fall Prevention Champion.
Monitor residents with a history of falls or identified fall risk.
Review fall reports and identify patterns, trends, locations, times, circumstances, and contributing factors.
Participate in post-fall review and assist with identifying appropriate preventive interventions.
Monitor implementation and effectiveness of individualized fall interventions.
Collaborate with nursing, therapy, restorative nursing, activities, and other interdisciplinary team members to reduce fall risk.
Assist with environmental rounds to identify potential fall hazards.
Monitor appropriate use and availability of fall-prevention equipment and interventions.
Participate in review of residents experiencing recurrent falls and assist with development of additional interventions.
Provide ongoing staff education regarding fall prevention, safe transfers, mobility, toileting, environmental safety, and appropriate resident supervision.
Maintain and/or monitor the center's fall-prevention tracking tools and reports.
Assist with monthly fall trend analysis and identification of opportunities for improvement.
Participate in fall-related QAPI/PIP initiatives.
Promote a culture of proactive fall prevention rather than relying solely on post-fall interventions.
III. Clinical Rounds & Monitoring
Conduct scheduled clinical prevention rounds throughout the center.
Identify residents requiring additional assessment, intervention, or interdisciplinary follow-up.
Follow up on previously identified concerns to determine whether interventions are effective.
Communicate findings to the appropriate nurse or department leader.
Monitor compliance with prevention interventions established through care plans, clinical meetings, wound rounds, and fall reviews.
Escalate significant clinical concerns to the DON or appropriate clinical leader.
IV. Staff Education & Competency
Develop and provide ongoing education related to wound prevention, skin integrity, and fall prevention.
Provide just-in-time education when opportunities for improvement are identified.
Assist with competency validation for staff when appropriate.
Educate CNAs and licensed nurses regarding early identification and reporting of changes in skin condition and fall risk.
Reinforce proper documentation and communication expectations.
Participate in orientation and ongoing education initiatives related to clinical prevention.
V. Reporting & Documentation
Maintain accurate wound and fall prevention reports.
Track wound and fall trends and identify areas requiring intervention.
Assist with preparation of information for clinical meetings, QAPI meetings, and leadership review.
Monitor completion of required follow-up documentation.
Identify discrepancies or gaps in documentation and communicate them to the appropriate department leader.
Maintain organized records of prevention activities, education, audits, and follow-up.
Provide routine updates to the DON regarding wound and fall prevention activities, trends, concerns, and outcomes.
VI. Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement
Participate in QAPI activities involving wounds, pressure injuries, falls, and other clinical prevention initiatives.
Assist with identifying root causes and contributing factors related to adverse clinical outcomes.
Assist in developing, implementing, and monitoring corrective action plans.
Monitor effectiveness of interventions and recommend modifications when outcomes are not improving.
Use clinical data and identified trends to support evidence-based prevention strategies.
Participate in interdisciplinary quality meetings as assigned.
VII. Clinical On-Call Responsibilities
Participate in the center's clinical on-call schedule as needed, consistent with facility expectations and established on-call procedures.
Provide clinical support, guidance, and consultation to nursing staff during assigned on-call periods.
Assist with addressing clinical concerns, changes in resident condition, falls, wounds, hospital transfers, and other urgent nursing matters that arise while serving in the on-call role.
Communicate significant clinical concerns to the Director of Nursing or other appropriate leadership in accordance with facility policy.
Complete appropriate follow-up and documentation related to clinical on-call responsibilities.
Maintain professional availability and timely communication during assigned on-call periods.
Daily Expectations
Review new clinical concerns and residents identified as high risk.
Complete assigned prevention rounds.
Follow up on new wounds, skin concerns, falls, or changes in fall risk.
Communicate significant findings to the appropriate clinical leader.
Monitor implementation of identified interventions.
Provide education and coaching as opportunities arise.
Maintain timely and accurate documentation.
Weekly Expectations
Participate in or coordinate wound rounds.
Update the wound report.
Review residents with new or worsening wounds.
Review recent falls and follow-up interventions.
Identify residents with recurrent falls or increasing risk.
Complete prevention rounds/audits.
Provide targeted staff education as needed.
Report significant trends and concerns to the DON.
Monthly Expectations
Analyze wound and fall trends.
Review effectiveness of prevention interventions.
Participate in QAPI/PIP activities.
Provide a summary of wound and fall prevention activities to nursing leadership.
Identify opportunities for additional staff education or process improvement.
Review compliance with prevention initiatives and make recommendations for improvement.
Qualifications
Current, unrestricted RN license in the state of South Carolina.
Long-term care/skilled nursing experience preferred.
Experience with wound care, pressure injury prevention, fall prevention, or quality improvement preferred.
Strong assessment, communication, organizational, and clinical documentation skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to identify clinical trends and develop proactive interventions.
Commitment to resident safety, quality of care, and prevention of avoidable complications.
Reporting Relationship
The Clinical Prevention RN reports directly to the Director of Nursing and works collaboratively with the Assistant Director of Nursing, Unit Managers, MDS, Therapy, Restorative Nursing, providers, and other interdisciplinary team members.
The Clinical Prevention RN will also participate in the facility's clinical on-call rotation as needed and will be expected to provide appropriate clinical support during assigned on-call periods.
Overall Goal of the Position
The Clinical Prevention RN will promote a proactive culture of clinical prevention by identifying residents at risk, ensuring appropriate interventions are implemented, educating staff, monitoring outcomes, and using clinical trends to reduce preventable wounds, falls, and related complications.
Core Focus Areas:
Wound & Skin Integrity Prevention
Fall Prevention
Clinical Rounds & Surveillance
Staff Education
Clinical Reporting & Trending
QAPI/Performance Improvement
Clinical On-Call Support
Resident Safety & Quality Outcome
Other Duties assigned by DON
NHC HealthCare Bluffton offers a competitive compensation package for full time employment including health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance, uniforms, paid time off, 401 (k) with generous company match, stock options, and more.
National HealthCare Corporation is recognized nationwide as an innovator in the delivery of quality care. Our goal is to provide a full range of extended care services, designed to maximize the well-being and independence of patients of all ages. We are dedicated to meeting patient needs through an interdisciplinary approach combining compassionate care with cost-effective health care services.
The NHC environment is one of encouragement and challenge ... innovation and improvement ... teamwork and collaboration ... and honesty and integrity. All NHC employees are committed as partners, not only to the health of our patients, but to the well-being of the communities we serve.
If you are interested in working for a leader in senior care and share NHC's values of honesty and integrity, please apply today and find out more about us at nhccare.com/locations/bluffton/
We look forward to talking with you!!
EOE