ICU Wound Care Nurse
Newark, NJ
Host Healthcare
5x8 hrs, Days
Referral Bonus

Job Opportunity: Wound Care Nurse

Location: Newark, New Jersey
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

Provide specialized wound care for ICU patients, including those recovering from open heart surgery and heart/lung transplants. Focus on pressure injury wounds, wound/ulcer assessment and management, and collaborate with primary nurses and educators to reduce and prevent pressure injuries.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in New Jersey
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Minimum 1 year of wound care nursing experience within the last year
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association
• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) or Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN) certification
• IV Certification
• Experience in an acute care setting
• Experience providing care for ICU patients, including those recovering from open heart surgery and heart and lung transplant cases
• Proficient in the use of Epic electronic health record system

Work Environment & Schedule

• Unit: ICU with acute/critical care patients, including heart and lung transplant cases
• Shift: Day shift, Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (5 days, 7.5 hours each)
• Scheduling:

  • Every other weekend required
  • Must work 1 of 2 or 2 of 3 holidays as needed
  • Flexible end-of-shift time based on documentation, admissions/discharges, and staffing needs (no patient handoff at shift end)
• Travel Experience: First-time travelers accepted; local nurses also accepted

Key Responsibilities

• Provide wound and pressure injury care and management
• Maintain detailed documentation and Excel tracking of pressure injury patients (staging, hospital-acquired status, etc.)
• Participate in wound rounds and prevalence studies to identify opportunities for improvement
• Interface with patients’ primary nurses and educators to prioritize pressure injury prevention

Required Documentation & Compliance

• Government-issued photo ID and driver’s license (must match RN license name)
• Criminal background check within 30 days of start
• Drug screen within 30 days of start (10-panel urine test)
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray per facility protocol
• Physical exam within 12 months, cleared to perform essential job functions and free of communicable disease
• Respiratory medical clearance and on-site fit testing (updated annually)
• Influenza vaccination or approved medical/religious exemption (annual requirement)
• Required competency exams including:

  • Medication/Pharmacology competency
  • Dysrhythmia/EKG competency (as applicable)
  • IV Therapy/Infusion exam (required for all RNs except OR specialties)
• Pass/fail testing for EKG and medication exams with remediation policy
• Color blindness testing if job tasks require color discrimination
• Annual education sign-off and facility-specific orientation requirements

References & Work History

• Two professional references within the last 2 years (one managerial)
• Employment application or resume with 7 years of work history
• Work history verification per New Jersey state requirements

Additional Notes

• Must complete facility-specific floating policy for each new assignment
• Must comply with all facility-required certifications and annual education updates
• Documentation must be accurate with legal names matching licensure and background checks
• Facility accepts candidates with name changes if proper documentation is provided

This position offers an opportunity to work in a high-acuity ICU setting with advanced wound care responsibilities, supporting patients with complex surgical and transplant needs.