JOB SUMMARY: The Registered Nurse (RN) plans, organizes and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community, to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individual and families within their homes and communities.
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Complete an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs
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Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es)
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Provide professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process
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Assess and evaluate patients status by:
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Writing and initiating plan of care
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Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
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Participating in revising the plan of care, as necessary
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Initiate the plan of care and make necessary revisions as patient status and needs change
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Use health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis
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Develop a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporate palliative nursing actions
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Include the patient and the family in the planning process
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Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
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Administer medications and treatments, as prescribed by the physician, in the physicians plan of care
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Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs
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Provide health care instructions to the patient, as appropriate, per assessment and plan
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Assist the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitate the patients efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care
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Complete, maintain and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patients condition and care given
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Record pain/symptom management and changes/outcomes as appropriate
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Communicate with the physician regarding the patients needs and report changes in the patients condition; obtain/receive physicians orders, as required
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Communicate with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan
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Teach the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques, as appropriate
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Provide medication, diet and other instructions, as ordered by the physician, and recognize and utilize opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers
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Work in concert with the interdisciplinary group
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Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient
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Assist the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care
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Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver
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May be required to attend interdisciplinary group meetings
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Participate in on-call duties, as defined by the on-call policy
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Ensure that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available
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Supervise ancillary personnel and delegate responsibilities when required
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Assume responsibility for personal growth and development, maintain and upgrade professional knowledge and practice skills, through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes
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Fulfill the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments
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Actively participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams
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Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing
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Must have at least one (1) year of acute care experience in an institutional setting
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One (1) year of experience in home care preferred
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Must have current licensure in the state
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Must demonstrate excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills
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Must possess excellent problem-solving skills and basic math skills
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Must demonstrate nursing skills per competency checklist
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Must be able to read and follow instructions, as required
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Must be able to travel, often without notice
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Must be flexible in work hours
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Must demonstrate a willingness to maintain a comprehensive working knowledge regarding information systems and applicable software programs
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Must comply with company policies, procedures and processes, in addition to Hospice rules and regulations
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Must be dependable and flexible in work schedule
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Must comply with harassment and discrimination policies
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Must foster good working relationships
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Must be able to read, write and speak in English
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Must possess and maintain current CPR certification
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Must be a licensed driver with licensed automobile that is insured, in accordance with organization/state requirements and is in good working order
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Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check prior to hire and annually thereafter
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Must be able to see color changes on a patient's skin; can listen to heart and lung sounds through a stethoscope; and feel skin temperature, as well as palpating pulses
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Must demonstrate vital sensory abilities including near vision, far vision, perceptual speed, visual color discrimination, depth perception and hearing sensitivity
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Must have finger dexterity, arm-hand steadiness, and manual dexterity
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Must be able to manipulate equipment in a safe and effective way and use tools that require motor functioning, such as blood pressure monitors and hemostats
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Must be able to communicate with patients, families and other health care workers
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Speech clarity, speech recognition and written expression are vital abilities for performing the job
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Must be able to lift heavy items on a frequent basis
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Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. with or without assistance and must be able to spend a prolonged amount of time standing, walking, bending and stretching
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Must possess the ability to deal with stressful situations as well as grieving families
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Must be able to be compassionate without becoming personally involved with the patients and their families
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Must be willing to participate in a drug/alcohol screen prior to hire, if involved in a work- related automobile accident and if reasonable suspicion is reported
