POSITION DESCRIPTION

HOSPICE REGISTERED NURSE CASE MANAGER

Summary

The R.N. Case Manager is an integral part of the hospice interdisciplinary care team and as such is responsible for coordinating the total care of the hospice patient and family.

Understanding that hospice care must be delivered according to accepted standards of practice guided by the mission of the organization and the patient/family's needs and concerns, the Case Manager blends all services of the hospice into an integrated program of support.

Relationships

• Reports to the Director of Nurses/Supervising Nurse and/or Patient Care Coordinator
• Supervises Licensed Practical Nurses/ Licensed Vocational Nurses and Hospice Aides as assigned by the Director of Nurses /Supervising Nurse and/or Patient Care Coordinator
• Work with the entire interdisciplinary team and volunteers
• Liaisons with community referrals, agencies, healthcare professionals and families to provide greater understanding of hospice care and philosophy
• Works under the direction of a physician

Position Conditions

• High level of community visibility, especially with physicians, other health professionals and providers of service
• Some supervisory and program development work outside of normal business hours required
• Reliable transportation for patient care and program development required
• Work mostly in patient's homes, which are not usually wheelchair accessible
• Contact with patient/families with risk of exposure to communicable disease
• Good listening skills and documentation skills required
• Legible handwriting required

Qualifications

• Current and valid STATE Registered Nurse license (in state of employment)
• Georgia Registered Nurse Case Manager must be licensed to practice in the state of Georgia with no restrictions, it is preferred that the Registered Nurse have at least 2 years of full time experience as an RN; however, 2 years of full time clinical experience in hospice care as a LPN may be substituted for the 2 years of experience as a RN.
• Must have current CPR certification.
• Personal car for travel or other method of reliable and flexible transportation
• Valid STATE driver's license and current auto liability insurance
• Must have a clear state specific motor vehicle check as applicable
• Training in disease processes leading to death
• Training in control of pain and other symptoms
• Training in infection control and universal precautions

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides hospice admission information to the patient and family as required
• Provides comprehensive nursing assessments as directed by the interdisciplinary team

• Participates in developing the interdisciplinary team plan of care
• Provides patient care services as directed by the plan of care
• Supervises Licensed Practical Nurses/ Licensed Vocational Nurses on assigned patients
• Supervises Hospice Aides on assigned patients
• Teaches appropriate palliative interventions to family members, other health professionals and the community at large
• Evaluates patient care services as directed by the plan of care
• Assures the supervision at least every fourteen (14) days of Hospice Aides serving assigned patients
• Reports changes in the patient's condition to the DON/Supervising Nurse and/or Patient Care Coordinator or designee, physician, or interdisciplinary team as appropriate
• Provides, as directed by governing laws and procedures, death pronouncement for hospice patients
• Participates as directed by the bereavement plan of care in providing bereavement services
• Provides accurate, timely, appropriate documentation of all services provided
• Attends team meetings and in-service as required
• Participates in presenting hospice related information to volunteers, other health care organizations, and the community at large
• Uses appropriate communication skills and provides emotional support to the patient/family as needed through good listening skills
• Contributes to program development through building relationship with potential referral sources in the area assigned
• Follows all appropriate policies and procedures of Caritas Hospice Care, Inc.
• Responsible to be on-call as assigned
• Carries out all other duties as assigned

Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to develop good rapport with patients/families, team members and other health care professionals
• Ability to assess needs of the patient/family quickly and accurately
• Sound knowledge of pain and symptom management
• Knowledge of the nursing process and accepted standards of nursing practice
• Knowledge of the nurse practice act
• Ability to exercise good judgment
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of the hospice philosophy and concept of care
• Ability to respond appropriately in crisis situation

Measurement:

Quality Patient Care

• Nursing assessments in I 00% of charts reviewed as monitored by chart audits
• Improvement in identified physical symptoms documented in I 00% of patient charts reviewed by the chart audit or exceptions documented
• Number of contacts with patients/families and/or outside health related agencies
• Timely, accurate, and informative/documentation
• Lack of chart deficiencies reported to the DON/Supervising Nurse
• Hospice Aide supervision done timely
• Timely evaluation of the plan of care. (At least every fifteen (15) days)
• Good comments on service or lack of complaints from families either directly or through the Hospice Service Evaluation (after service questionnaire)

Productivity

• Number of patient visits per week
• Accurate, informative paperwork submitted within one day of service
• Number of assigned Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses, and Hospice Aides

Program Development

• Number of non-patient related contacts with outside agencies or potential referral sources, or the community at large
• Number of admissions in assigned territory

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• Acute care
• Long term care
• Outpatient

Experience:

• Case management: 1 year (Preferred)
• Nursing: 5 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• RN License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Alpharetta, GA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: On the road