Job Summary:

Responsibilities:

• Actively engages and educates potential customers to the benefits and appropriateness of care.

• Ensures the patient and his/her family has adequate knowledge and understanding of the hospice or homecare benefit, as appropriate.

• For hospice only, processes incoming referrals.

• Contributes to the assessment of patients by collecting data for analysis by a RN.

• Observes patients and reports any unusual conditions to professional staff.

• Observes for safety risk and implements safety measures that are within scope of practice.

• Administers medications, within scope of practice, and observes patients for effectiveness in relief of symptoms as well as for adverse reactions to medications or treatments.

• Provides direct patient care including dressing changes and laboratory tests as part of the plan of care.

• Provides ongoing education and information to patients and family members, taking into consideration cultural issues and other special challenges.

• Maintains complete and up-to-date documentation and files at all times regarding patient condition and effectiveness and timeliness of care and interventions.

• Ensures seamless transition to the residential setting by coordinating services at time of discharge.

• Flexibility in setting and revising priorities for one’s daily assignment based on patient needs/acuity, family requests and available resources.

• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited practical or vocational nursing program.

Languages:

• English required

Certifications:

• Current Ohio License as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).

• Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA).

• Valid Ohio Driver’s license upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter.

• Proof of automobile insurance coverage with $100,000/$300,000 coverage upon hire; per policy 8-175 thereafter. 

Competencies (Complexity of Work):

• Knowledgeable regarding JCAHO and Medicare standards and regulations.
• The ability to work confidently and accurately in a fast-paced, time-constrained environment.
• The ability to build and maintain relationships with patients, physicians, community agencies and institutions while providing excellent service and care.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of one year clinical experience as a professional nurse in an acute setting. 
• In Hospice, previous hospice experience preferred.
• In Homecare, previous infusion experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires full range of motion, manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Requires standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Requires corrected hearing and vision to normal range.
• Requires some exposure to communicable disease or bodily fluids.
• Medium Work - Exerting 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.
• Must be ambulatory and able to drive to patients' homes, able to climb stairs, pull, push, and facilitate movement of the patient.
• Must be able to read, write and communicate with patients.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.

Keywords: comfort care, pall/med, palliative, licensed practical nurse, home, community