Overview

Position Summary:  In this role you are responsible for providing ongoing guidance and direction to the nursing team, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, for patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. This is an opportunity to share your skills and compassion with those who genuinely need your support and expertise to facilitate improved quality of life during a challenging time. This is a Hospice Role

Essential Functions: Ensures the provision of quality nursing service by assigned staff. Provides ongoing direction, guidance and evaluation of hospice nurses and ensures that professional standards are maintained. Assesses requests for hospice service and initiates measures to provide for meeting identified service needs.

Responsibilities

• Monitoring patient vital signs, including body temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure
• Administering medications and treatments prescribed by physicians
• Notifying physicians when they observe a change in a patient’s condition 
• Counseling family members to help them know what to expect as their loved one’s condition worsens
• Making family members aware of resources like counseling and government programs
• Helping family members complete paperwork 
• Updating patient records
• Adhering to infection control, standards of care and patient privacy standards

• Complies with Agency's Personnel Policies and Procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Observation Skills to recognize changes in patients who may be unable to communicate.
• Strong oral communication skills to direct other members of the health care team and deliver reports to physicians.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills to interact positively with patients and their family members.
• Knowledge of the standards of care for end-of-life care.
• Familiarity with pain relief drugs and other medications and treatments commonly prescribed for hospice patients.
• Familiarity with pain relief drugs and other medications and treatments commonly prescribed for hospice patients.
• Computer skills, including using email and patient record management software.
• Ability to move patients and heavy and/or delicate medical equipment like IVs and nebulizers.

Qualifications

• Requires hospice care experience.
• Current Pennsylvania LPN License
•  Current CPR certificate