Position Summary

The primary purpose of your job position is to plan, organize, develop and direct the overall hospice nursing care in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations, and as may be directed by the VP of Operations and the Medical Director to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Stewards the philosophy/mission of PH Healthcare, Inc., which focuses on the overriding values of human dignity and respectful response to the needs of persons with life threatening/terminal and/or chronic illnesses.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the nursing services functions of PH Healthcare.
• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct the hospice nursing/health service department, as well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing/health service department.
• Maintain a reference library of written clinical material (i.e., PDR’S, Federal and State Regulations, etc.) that will assist the nursing service department in meeting the day-to-day needs of the patient.
• Develop, maintain and periodically update electronic-based and/or paper-based assessments and other documentation forms required for nursing services, in conjunction with IT support services.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the VP of Operations, as necessary/required, concerning the operation of the nursing service department.
• Develop, maintain and periodically update written job descriptions for each level of nursing/health personnel in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act, OSHA, and other pertinent laws and regulations.
• Develop methods for coordination of hospice nursing/health services with facility nursing services to ensure the continuity of the patients’ total regimen of care.
• Participate in hospice surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Build effective relationships with facility administration to ensure that the hospice care service is well integrated into the facility plan of care.
• Assure full and appropriate documentation of direct patient care services to support successful professional billing of these services.
• Actively participates in responding to audits and denials from third party insurance and intermediaries (i.e., Medicare).
• Coordinates and participates in the interdisciplinary team meeting including review of patients’ diagnosis for eligibility and review of patients plan of care.
• Participate and provide nursing leadership in the development and review of all appropriate clinical protocols and processes that support quality patient care.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• Hold routine department meetings with nursing services staff to problem-solve issues.

Committee Functions

• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the hospice (i.e., Admissions, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as required, and as appointed by VP of Operations.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to hospice nursing services.
• Provide written and/or oral reports of the nursing/health service programs and activities as required, or as may be directed by such committee(s).
• Working closely with the Medical Director, VP of Operations and other managers as appropriate to assure that clinical protocols, utilization review, case management, quality assurance, and compliance programs are implemented according to policy.

Personnel Functions

• Determine the staffing needs of the nursing/health service department necessary to meet the total nursing needs of the patients.
• ·Assist the VP of Operations and/or Medical Director in the recruitment and selection of nursing/health service personnel.
• Assign a sufficient number of licensed practical and/or registered nurses for each day to ensure that quality care is maintained.
• Develop work assignments, schedule duty hours, coordinate paid time off, and/or assist nursing/health supervisory staff in completing and performing such tasks.
• Delegate to nursing service personnel the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform their assigned duties.
• Make routine and home facility visits to ensure that all hospice nursing/health service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.
• Monitor absenteeism to ensure that an adequate number of nursing/health care personnel are on duty at all times.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically update the written procedure for ensuring that professional nursing/health personnel have valid and current licenses as required by this State.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by department personnel.
• Provide complaint/grievance reports to the VP of Operations as required or as may be necessary.
• Ensure that disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age, sex, religion, handicap or marital status.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the hospice’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
• Provide oversight of the work and documentation of the hospice nursing care team.

Nursing Care Functions

• Participates in the interviewing and selection of patients for admission to the hospice.
• Provide the VP of Operations with information relative to the nursing needs of the patient and the nursing department’s ability to meet those needs.
• Inform nursing/health service personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, location, etc.
• Review nurses’ notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the hospice nursing care being provided, that they reflect the patient’s response to the care, the family/caregiver response to care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident’s wishes.
• Provide direct nursing care as necessary.

Staff Development

• Assist in the development and planning of a continuing education program that meets all State and Federal requirements, assists in the resolutions of complaints and improves and refines hospice care services.
• Develop, implement, and maintain an effective orientation program that orients new nursing staff to the hospice policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
• Develop and coordinate annual OSHA and CDD in-service training programs for hazard communications, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs that relate to the nursing/health service department.
• Develop in-service training programs for the nursing staff. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements which allow licensed personnel (e.g., RN’s, LPNs, etc.) to keep their licenses on an active status.
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
• Educate facility staff and others engaged in health care services regarding the hospice program and its potential benefits.

Safety and Sanitation

• Develop safety standards for the nursing/health service department.
• Ensure that hospice staff is familiar with facility policy and procedure manuals to identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injury.
• Identify, evaluate, and classify routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Ensure that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Monitor nursing/health service personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that all nursing/health service personnel follow departmental policies and procedures, including appropriate dress codes.
• Ensure that hospice staff is familiar with facility written aseptic and isolation techniques, fire safety, and disaster preparedness protocols.
• Develop, implement and maintain a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases, including TB, among personnel.
• Ensure that nursing/health service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
• Develop, implement and maintain a procedure for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the VP of Operations the equipment and supply needs of the department.
• Develop and implement procedures for the safe operation of all nursing/health service equipment.
• Ensure that only trained and authorized personnel operate the department’s equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel operate nursing/health service equipment in a safe manner.
• Develop and implement procedures that ensure nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Ensure that personal protective equipment used in the handling of infectious materials is available and easily accessible to nursing service personnel.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Assure development of a written plan of care (preliminary and comprehensive) for each patient that identifies the problems/needs of the patient, indicates the care to be given, goals to be accomplished, and which professional service is responsible for each element of care.
• Encourage the patient and his/her family to participate in the development and review of the patient’s plan of care.
• Ensure that all personnel involved in providing care to the patient are aware of the patient’s hospice care plan.
• Review nurses’ notes to determine if the care plan is being followed.
• Review and revise care plans and assessments as necessary, but at least monthly.
• Develop and maintain a good rapport with all services involved with the care plan to ensure that a team effort is achieved in developing a comprehensive plan of care.
• Ensure that medical and nursing care is administered in accordance with the patient’s wishes, including the implementation of advance directives.

Budget and Planning Functions

• Prepare and plan the nursing/health service department’s budget and submit to the VP of Operations for his/her review, recommendations, and/or approval.
• Keep abreast of economic conditions/situations and recommend to the VP of Operations adjustments in nursing/health services that ensure the continued ability to provide quality care.
• Recommend to the VP of Operations the equipment and supply needs of the nursing/health service department.
• Assist in strategic planning as requested by the VP of Operations.

Qualifications

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university and be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of South Carolina. Must have healthcare management in a hospital, long-term care facility, or other related health care facility. Hospice experience and certification in hospice and palliative care is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of hospice nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to hospice.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a patient’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• Must have knowledge of HIPAA compliance and regulations.
• Must have knowledge of state Medicare regulations and guidelines.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,000.00 - $92,000.00 per year

Benefits:

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

Medical specialties:

• Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• On call
• Weekend availability

Experience:

• Supervising experience: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• RN (Required)

Work Location: On the road