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.
REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing
Must have at least one (1) year of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting
Must have at least one (1) year of recent experience in home care environment; hospice experience preferred
Must have current licensure in the state
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Must demonstrate excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills
Must possess excellent problem-solving skills and basic math skills
Must demonstrate nursing skills per competency checklist
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to read and follow instructions, as required
Must be able to travel, often without notice
Must be flexible in work hours
Must demonstrate a willingness to maintain a comprehensive working knowledge regarding information systems and applicable software programs
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Complete an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs
Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es)
Provide professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process
Assess and evaluate patients status by:
o Writing and initiating plan of care
o Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
o Participating in revising the plan of care, as necessary
Initiate the plan of care and make necessary revisions as patient status and needs change
Use health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis
Develop a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporate palliative nursing actions
Include the patient and the family in the planning process
Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
Administer medications and treatments, as prescribed by the physician, in the physicians plan of care
Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs
Provide health care instructions to the patient, as appropriate, per assessment and plan
Assist the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitate the patients efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care
Complete, maintain and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patients condition and care given
Record pain/symptom management and changes/outcomes as appropriate
Communicate with the physician regarding the patients needs and report changes in the patients condition; obtain/receive physicians orders, as required
Communicate with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan
Teach the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques, as appropriate
Provide medication, diet and other instructions, as ordered by the physician, and recognize and utilize opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers
Work in concert with the interdisciplinary group
Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient
Assist the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care
Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver
May be required to attend interdisciplinary group meetings
Participate in on-call duties, as defined by the on-call policy
Ensure that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available
Supervise ancillary personnel and delegate responsibilities when required
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
Fulfill the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments
Actively participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Must comply with company policies, procedures and processes, in addition to Hospice rules and regulations
Must be dependable and flexible in work schedule
Must comply with harassment and discrimination policies
Must foster good working relationships
Must be able to read, write and speak in English
Must possess and maintain current CPR certification
Must be a licensed driver with licensed automobile that is insured, in accordance with organization/state requirements and is in good working order
Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check prior to hire and annually thereafter
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
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
Must demonstrate vital sensory abilities including near vision, far vision, perceptual speed, visual color discrimination, depth perception and hearing sensitivity
Must have finger dexterity, arm-hand steadiness, and manual dexterity
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
Must be able to communicate with patients, families and other health care workers
Speech clarity, speech recognition and written expression are vital abilities for performing the job
Must be able to lift heavy items on a frequent basis
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
Must possess the ability to deal with stressful situations as well as grieving families
Must be able to be compassionate without becoming personally involved with the patients and their families
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