A wound care nurse is a nurse with specialized training in caring for injuries to the skin, in particular decubitus ulcers. The most-well qualified wound care nurses are certified by the Academy of Wound Care and Ostomy Nurses. A wound care nurse may be an employee of the nursing home, but may also be a direct employee of the management company for the nursing home or of an independent contractor. This is an issue which requires close investigation because the wound care nurse can pay a key role in treating a decubitus ulcer once it develops.
Doctors are in charge of managing care of a decubitus ulcer once it develops. However, as a practical matter, the choice of therapies and approach to care is beyond the level of expertise of the attending physician so what often happens in practice is that the wound care makes recommendations for treatment orders which the attending doctor adopts. Therefore, the wound care nurse in practice manages the care of the decubitus ulcer once it appears.
This is important in cases where the care after the wound developed is at issue. Federal regulations require that once a wound develops, the resident receive care, treatment, and services necessary promote healing, prevent infection, and keep new wounds from occurring. Focus on the wound care nurses is crucial where that is at issue.