Wound Care Consultant - RN

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Wound Care Consultant RN serves as a clinical advisor to partner facilities, providing expert guidance on wound identification, management, documentation, and risk mitigation. This role focuses on high-risk wounds and supports facility leadership in strengthening clinical practices, improving documentation defensibility, and reducing regulatory and litigation risk.

This position is strictly consultative and does not include direct patient care, staff supervision, or operational oversight. The Wound Care Consultant RN evaluates clinical performance and provides clear, actionable recommendations to support improved outcomes and survey readiness.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

· Location: Arkansas / Remote with travel to facilities as needed

· Travel: Periodic on-site visits for training, consultation, and care plan collaboration

THE WOUND CARE CONSULTANT RN WILL:

· Deliver consultative support through a proactive, risk-informed, and clinically grounded approach

· Identifying high-risk wounds early and supporting timely intervention

· Evaluating documentation and care practices for accuracy, completeness, and defensibility

· Promoting evidence-based wound care practices aligned with current standards

· Supporting facility leadership through clear recommendations and structured follow-up

· Identifying trends and system gaps to reduce overall risk exposure

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. HIGH-RISK WOUND IDENTIFICATION & OVERSIGHT

· Review clinical data, reports, and EMR documentation to identify high-risk wounds across facilities.

· Maintain a centralized tracking process for high-risk wounds to ensure visibility and follow-through

· Identify wounds with elevated regulatory or litigation risk, including:

· Facility-acquired wounds

· Worsening pressure injuries

· Rapidly deteriorating or avoidable wounds

2. DOCUMENTATION & CARE PLAN REVIEW

· Conduct routine and targeted audits of:

o Wound assessments (timeliness, accuracy, staging consistency)

o Ongoing wound documentation (weekly/monthly)

o Provider orders and treatment alignment

o Wound-related care plans

· Evaluate whether documentation supports:

o Clinical decision-making

o Survey readiness and regulatory defensibility

o Provide clear, written recommendations to address gaps and improve quality

3. HIGH-RISK CARE PLAN VALIDATION

· Assess whether each high-risk wound includes:

o A comprehensive, individualized care plan

o Appropriate, evidence-based interventions

o Documentation of implementation and follow-through

o Identify missing or insufficient interventions and recommend corrective actions

4. COMMUNICATION & ESCALATION

· Ensure timely communication of high-risk wounds to facility leadership, including:

o Administrator

o Director of Nursing

o Regional leadership (as applicable)

o Confirm awareness, prioritization, and appropriate response

o Escalate concerns when patterns of risk, non-compliance, or lack of follow-through are identified

5. FOLLOW-THROUGH & ACCOUNTABILITY (CONSULTATIVE)

· Establish and maintain structured follow-up on high-risk wounds

· Track whether recommendations are:

o Acknowledged

o Implemented

o Effective

· Re-engage leadership when:

o Documentation remains deficient

o Wound progression is unfavorable

o Recommended interventions are not adopted

6. SYSTEMIC RISK IDENTIFICATION

· Identify trends across facilities, including:

o Documentation gaps or inconsistencies

o Inaccurate or inconsistent staging

o Delays in provider involvement

o Breakdowns in interdisciplinary communication

o Provide both facility-specific and portfolio-level recommendations to reduce risk

7. CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION REVIEW & IMPROVEMENT

· Review EMR documentation for:

o Accuracy

o Completeness

o Consistency across disciplines

· Recommend improvements to:

o Narrative charting

o Wound progression tracking

o Supporting documentation for survey readiness

8. SURVEY & REGULATORY READINESS (ADVISORY)

· Evaluate wound care practices against:

o CMS regulations (F686 – Pressure Ulcers/Injuries)

o State survey expectations

o Identify vulnerabilities and provide pre-survey recommendations

o Support alignment with CMS Critical Element Pathways

9. EDUCATION & COLLABORATION

· Provide education and guidance to facility teams on best practices in wound care and documentation

· Participate in care plan meetings or interdisciplinary discussions as needed

· Support a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and quality improvement

SCOPE OF ROLE

· This position is advisory in nature

· The Wound Care Consultant RN:

o Does not provide direct patient care

o Does not supervise or discipline facility staff

o Does not implement or enforce facility policies

· All recommendations are provided to facility leadership for independent evaluation and implementation

KEY COMPETENCIES

· Advanced clinical judgment in wound care

· Strong documentation review and auditing skill

· Ability to identify risk versus defensibility gaps

· Clear, concise written and verbal communication

· Ability to influence without direct authority

· Strong follow-through and accountability mindset

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

· High-risk wounds are consistently:

o Identified early

o Communicated to leadership

o Tracked through stabilization or resolution

· Demonstrated improvement in:

o Wound-related documentation quality

o Survey readiness and regulatory compliance

· Reduction in:

o Facility-acquired pressure injuries

o Documentation-related deficiencies

· Evidence of meaningful implementation and impact of recommendations

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Arkansas or eligible for multi-state licensure (eNLC)

· Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience, with a focus on wound care, long-term care, or post-acute settings preferred

· Strong knowledge of pressure injury staging, wound management, and SNF clinical practices

· Working knowledge of CMS regulations and survey processes (including F686)

· Proficiency with EMR systems (e.g., PointClickCare) and documentation review

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

· Wound Care Certification (WCC, CWCN, or equivalent)

· Experience in clinical auditing, quality improvement, or risk management

· Familiarity with regulatory compliance and survey readiness processes

· Experience providing education or consultation to facility leadership teams

ADDITIONAL NOTES

§ Must possess a valid driver's license.

§ Must be willing to travel occasionally

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• wound care: 3 years (Required)
• skilled nursing, long-term care: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Arkansas Registered Nursing License (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Little Rock, AR 72206