Senior Staff Nurse (Wound Care)

Responsibilities and Duties:

A. Direct Clinical Practice

The nurse shall maintain a strong clinical presence in direct patient care, planning and clinical consultation as assigned by RO.

1. Comprehensive Clinical Assessment and Management

Independently perform comprehensive assessment of patients with acute and chronic wounds, ostomy and continence-related conditions through:

• Holistic patient assessment
• Skin and tissue viability assessment
• Vascular assessment
• Wound aetiology determination
• Wound measurement and documentation
• Pain assessment
• Nutritional and psychosocial assessment
• Risk assessment for pressure injuries and skin breakdown

Utilise advanced and sound clinical judgement to identify wound complications including:

• Infection – Localised vs Systemic
• Ischaemia
• Necrosis
• Deteriorating wounds
• Atypical wounds
• Delayed healing trajectories
• Clinical deterioration requiring urgent escalation

2. Hands-On Wound Care Practice

Independently provide advanced wound care interventions & maintain competency in the use of contemporary wound products, technologies and equipment including:

• Wound cleansing
• Wound bed preparation
• Dressing selection, application & assessment
• Compression therapy support
• Management of exudate and moisture-associated skin damage
• Pressure injury prevention and management
• NPWT application, monitoring and management
• Other advanced wound care technologies within approved scope of practice

Perform conservative sharp wound debridement within approved scope of practice, competency framework and organizational credentialing requirements.

Assess treatment effectiveness and modify interventions based on wound progress and patient response.

B. Clinical Consultation Services

Serves as a wound care resource and clinical consultant for internal and external stakeholders.

Internal Consultation

• Provide wound care consultation to inpatient nursing and multidisciplinary teams.
• Advise on evidence-based clinical management, care planning, product and technology selection, dressing regimens, pressure injury prevention strategies, ostomy care, and continence management.
• Be a resource person for clinical enquiries, practice issues, policy interpretation, quality improvement initiatives, and implementation of best practices relating to wound, ostomy, skin, and continence care.
• Deliver education, coaching, mentorship, and competency development to healthcare professionals to strengthen clinical knowledge and practice.

External Consultation

Provide specialist consultation, onsite training, and clinical support to community partners and healthcare providers in wound management, including case reviews, protocol implementation, continuity of care, providing timely assessment , appropriate specialist referral pathways across the continuum of care.

Where appropriate, the SSN1 shall support external partners in strengthening wound care capability, standardising clinical practices and promoting continuity of care across care settings.

C. Clinical Leadership and Service Development

Serve as a clinical resource in wound care and contribute to the development and review of clinical standards, service improvement initiatives, resource optimisation, and the evaluation of evidence-based wound care technologies.

D. Education and Capability Building

The nurse shall maintain clinical credibility through active patient care involvement while supporting education and capability development.

Wound Education

Provide bedside coaching through demonstration of clinical skills, case-based discussions, clinical guidance, and competency assessment to support the application of evidence-based wound care practices.

Professional & Capability building

Maintain professional competency through continuous learning in clinical practice, healthcare management, and service improvement. Keep abreast of current evidence and emerging technologies in wound care and contribute as a trainer or facilitator in approved wound care education and competency programmes.

Contribute to the development, review and evaluation of wound care educational resources, competency frameworks and clinical teaching programmes

E. Quality Improvement, Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Contribute to clinical audits, quality improvement, outcome monitoring, and evidence-based practice initiatives. Analyse clinical outcomes to identify improvement opportunities, support research and innovation projects, and assist in the collection, reporting, and dissemination of findings to enhance patient care and service delivery.

F. Administrative Responsibilities

Maintain and ensure accurate clinical documentation, service activity records, and outcome reports. Support resource and inventory management, coordinate training and educational programmes, and manage the planning and delivery of wound care conferences, masterclasses, study days, and other professional education initiatives as assigned. Prepare service performance reports and presentations to support operational effectiveness, accountability, and stakeholder engagement.