An interdisciplinary diabetic foot and limb preservation practice in Waterloo, Ontario, is seeking an actively licensed Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) with wound care experience to join a specialized clinical team serving the Region of Waterloo and surrounding communities.
This position offers the opportunity to work in a focused outpatient setting dedicated to the assessment and management of diabetic foot disease, chronic wounds, and patients at risk for limb loss.
The successful candidate will work closely alongside a specialist physician with expertise in wound management and Infectious Diseases as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary care model focused on wound healing, limb preservation, and functional outcomes.
Role Overview
The RPN will provide direct nursing care to patients with diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries, arterial/ischemic wounds, surgical wounds, and other complex or chronic wounds. The role emphasizes wound assessment, dressing selection and application, monitoring of wound healing, patient education, and coordination of care.
The nurse will participate in the ongoing assessment and management of patients with complex wounds and will work within their professional scope of practice, CNO standards, organizational policies, and applicable medical directives.
The position is particularly suited to an RPN who already has wound care experience and wishes to further develop specialized expertise in complex wound management, diabetic foot care, and limb preservation.
Key Responsibilities
Wound Assessment: Perform and document focused assessments of diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries, arterial/ischemic wounds, surgical wounds, and other complex wounds, including wound dimensions, depth, tissue characteristics, drainage, peri-wound condition, signs of infection, and changes in healing trajectory.
Wound Care: Provide evidence-based wound care, including cleansing, dressing removal, dressing selection and application, skin protection, and other wound-management interventions within the RPN scope of practice.
Debridement and Advanced Skills: Perform wound-management procedures for which the nurse has appropriate education, competence, authorization, and scope of practice. Opportunities for further training in advanced wound-management techniques may be available.
Diabetic Foot Care: Participate in the assessment and ongoing management of diabetic foot ulcers, including recognition of pressure-related injury, infection, ischemia, neuropathy, and other factors that may impair healing.
Venous and Pressure Wound Management: Participate in the assessment and management of venous leg ulcers and pressure injuries, including appropriate wound care, skin protection, pressure redistribution, compression therapy where clinically appropriate and authorized, and monitoring of treatment response.
Clinical Monitoring: Monitor patients for changes suggesting wound deterioration, infection, vascular compromise, or other complications and promptly escalate concerns to the treating physician or other appropriate clinician.
Offloading and Limb Preservation: Support prescribed offloading and pressure-redistribution strategies and educate patients regarding adherence, pressure reduction, footwear, mobility, and prevention of recurrent ulceration.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with the lead specialist physician, nursing colleagues, community providers, Ontario Health atHome, and allied health professionals to support coordinated wound care.
Specialist Coordination: Assist with coordination of investigations and referrals to services such as Vascular Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, diagnostic imaging, and other specialists involved in complex wound management and limb preservation.
Patient Education: Educate patients and families regarding wound care, dressing management, diabetic foot protection, compression and pressure-relief strategies where applicable, infection warning signs, offloading, and strategies to promote healing and reduce recurrence.
Documentation: Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive clinical documentation in accordance with College of Nurses of Ontario standards and clinic policies.
Qualifications
Licensure: Current registration as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) is required.
Wound Care Experience: Previous clinical experience in wound management is required. Experience assessing and managing diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure injuries, arterial/ischemic wounds, surgical wounds, and other complex or chronic wounds is strongly preferred.
Clinical Skills: Demonstrated competence in wound assessment, dressing selection and application, infection recognition, skin and peri-wound assessment, and monitoring of wound-healing progress.
Advanced Wound Care: Training or certification in wound management is considered a strong asset. Candidates should be willing to undertake additional specialized training relevant to complex wound care, diabetic foot management, and limb preservation.
Clinical Judgment: Strong assessment skills and the ability to recognize clinically significant changes and appropriately escalate care.
Communication: Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, including the ability to provide effective patient education and collaborate with physicians, nurses, specialists, and community providers.
Professional Practice: Ability to work independently within the RPN scope of practice while functioning effectively as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team.
Note to Applicants
Only applicants who meet the specified nursing qualifications will be considered. Applicants must hold current RPN registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario and have relevant wound care experience.
Additional mentorship and specialized clinical training in complex wound care, diabetic foot management, and limb preservation will be provided.
Position Details
Type: Full-time, permanent position. Setting: Specialized outpatient diabetic foot and wound care practice. Location: Waterloo, Ontario. Team: Interdisciplinary model with direct specialist physician support. Compensation: CA$30.00-$33.00 per hour, commensurate with experience and wound-care expertise
Why Join Us?
Specialized Practice: Develop expertise in a focused clinical environment dedicated to complex wound management and diabetic limb preservation.
Meaningful Clinical Impact: Work directly with patients with complex wounds, including individuals at risk for significant complications and limb loss.
Professional Development: Expand your skills in advanced wound assessment, diabetic foot management, venous leg ulcer and pressure injury management, offloading, compression therapy, infection recognition, and limb-preservation strategies.
Direct Specialist Support: Work closely with a specialist physician and participate actively in clinical decision-making within an interdisciplinary model.
Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and cover letter outlining their wound care experience and interest in complex wound management, diabetic foot care, and limb preservation.
Join us if you’re passionate about delivering exceptional wound care with empathy and professionalism! We value your skills in nursing across diverse settings—whether it’s managing complex cases or providing compassionate support—and offer a rewarding environment where your expertise truly makes a difference.
Pay: $30.00-$33.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Extended health care
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
