Jolanta Birks
Belchertown,MA
Summary
Demonstrated success in clinical coordination and expertise in Wound, Ostomy and Continence nursing over twenty years of experience in various health care settings. Widely recognized as an excellent care provider, educator and multidisciplinary collaborator. With a solid foundation in nursing principles and a commitment to excellence, expertise in comprehensive wound and ostomy management and patient education significantly improved clinical results, demonstrating exceptional ability in both patient advocacy and technology utilization.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Wound and Ostomy Care Coordinator
Mercy Medical Center/ Trinity Health Of NE
Springfield, MA
12.2018 - Current
- Coordinated and monitored patient care in wound and ostomy acute care and affiliated rehabilitation setting.
- Identified patients requiring debridement procedures and assisted with bedside debridement procedures by surgical teams.
- Performed wound vac dressing placements in operative room with surgeon's supervision.
- Educated patients and families regarding wound care in relation to their underlying disease conditions
- Collaborated with medical providers, nursing personnel and other health disciplines to facilitate meeting patient needs.
- Assessed 10-15 patients in one day that required wound care or ostomy intervention.
- Provided continued ostomy follow up evaluations and recommendations in management of patients with ostomies in outpatient ostomy clinic.
- Served as resource to all hospital staff on all issues related to wound and skin
- Managed and reviewed Scout thermal imaging.
- Implemented Preventative Measures Protocol for severely ill patients with low Braden Scale.
Wound Care Coordinator
Vibra Hospital Of Western Massachusetts
03.2012 - 12.2018
- Treated chronic wounds and skin conditions including pressure ulcers , arterial ulcers, venous stasis and diabetic ulcers ,complex surgical wounds with fistulas , drains and dehiscence.
- Assessed, treated and created care plans for patients with complex wounds
- Collaborated with healthcare team to implement interventions for wound healing and skin breakdown prevention.
- Developed cost-effective wound care product formulary.
- Implemented plans to prevent pressure ulcers and other skin problems
- Applied negative pressure wound management therapy to complex wounds.
- Applied advanced patient' s blood serum derived products to non healing wounds.
- Attended care plan conferences with families and other departments about wounds and wound treatments and compliance with preventative measures.
- Developed guidelines and procedures related to pressure injury prevention.
- Provided post-surgery treatment and care for patients with ostomies.
- Designed pouch systems to assist in wound draining and recovery.
- Developed and evaluated computerized pathway for wound , ostomy, and continence care plans and standardized wound assessment tool.
- Educated bedside nurses in wound care procedures, skin preventative measures and wound classification
Clinical Consultant, Coordinator & Case Manager
Chicopee Visiting Nursing Association, Inc
02.2001 - 03.2013
- Provided direct, consultant, and rehabilitative care to patients with gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and integumentary problems.
- Served as resource, providing input and education to clinical staff for wound and ostomy care.
- Developed educational programs to staff and community.
- Authored comprehensive teaching tool for patients with incontinence problems.
Clinical Manager
Johnson MMC/ Advanced Wound & Hyperbaric Center
03.2012 - 02.2013
- Assisted in implementation and creation of new wound center and provided successful management of hospital based outpatient wound center.
- Managed clinical aspects of wound care center providing quality care to patients with chronic wounds.
- Responsible for clinical oversite for hyperbaric treatments and clinical operations.
- Managed clinic staff in collaboration with Program Director and Medical Director.
Registered Nurse Level 2
Baystate Medical Center
08.1999 - 02.2001
- Provided direct patient care to medical-surgical and orthopedic patient through discharge.
- Implemented medication and IV administration, catheter insertion.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to prioritize nursing interventions based on patients'' acuity levels and individual needs.
- Prevented the spread of infections by consistently adhering to strict infection control protocols and educating patients on proper hygiene practices.
Teacher, Biology
Middle School And High School
09.1993 - 02.1994
- Taught general biology and geography for 5-8 grade students.
Education
Wicks Educational Associates, Inc
Mechanicsburg, PA2004
No Degree -
Baystate School of Nursing
Springfield, MA1997
Master of Science - Biology
Nicolas Copernicus University
Torun, Poland1993
Skills
- Clinical expertise as coordinator, educator in management of acute and chronic wounds, various ostomies and incontinence problems
- Excellent experience as wound, ostomy & continence care coordinator in acute hospital, outpatient ostomy clinic, long term acute care, outpatient wound clinic and home care
- Expertise in clinical skills, knowledge of diagnostic data related to wound & ostomy care by the ability to review cases for quality improvement, identifying key diagnostic data needed and integrating it into assessment, care and outcome
- Sound knowledge of comprehensive wound, ostomy management including assessment and recommendation of appropriate wound dressings, expertise in ostomy appliances recommendations
- Risk management, knowledge in prevention of hospital acquired pressure injuries
- Multidisciplinary team collaboration
- Sense of responsibility, accountability and management self-directed
- Strong team building, mentoring skills
- Patient education and counseling
- Solid knowledge of nursing principals, procedures and standards of practice as determined by state and federal regulation
- NPUUAP & WOCN practice guidelines and HIPPAA Guidelines
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to demonstrate commitment to excellence in wound and ostomy care
- Time management
- Patient advocacy
Certification
- Wound, Ostomy Nursing Certification Board, Renewal Date: 04/30/2029
- BLS Provider, Renewal Date: 03/31/2026
Languages
English
Full Professional
Polish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Wound and Ostomy Care Coordinator
Mercy Medical Center/ Trinity Health Of NE
12.2018 - Current
Wound Care Coordinator
Vibra Hospital Of Western Massachusetts
03.2012 - 12.2018
Clinical Manager
Johnson MMC/ Advanced Wound & Hyperbaric Center
03.2012 - 02.2013
Clinical Consultant, Coordinator & Case Manager
Chicopee Visiting Nursing Association, Inc
02.2001 - 03.2013
Registered Nurse Level 2
Baystate Medical Center
08.1999 - 02.2001
Teacher, Biology
Middle School And High School
09.1993 - 02.1994
Wicks Educational Associates, Inc
No Degree -
Baystate School of Nursing
Master of Science - Biology
Nicolas Copernicus University
- Wound, Ostomy Nursing Certification Board, Renewal Date: 04/30/2029
- BLS Provider, Renewal Date: 03/31/2026
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