Provides skilled nursing care in response to patient/family crisis calls and participates in interdisciplinary care. The position requires good listening and communication skills, along with the capability in assimilating seemingly unrelated activities into a cohesive whole structure. It is essential that the RN have the ability to triage calls according to their importance.

• Receives all patient-related calls from the answering service.
• Triage patient calls and provides home or in-patient visits for unexpected changes in condition, deaths, disposal of narcotics, and when patients need warrant.
• Supervises and gives reports to weekend LVN/Aide.
• Contacts secondary on-call RN to report patient-related calls when a backup is needed, for all referrals received, when other disciplines are needed, and matters unrelated to patient care.
• Contacts Administrator on-call for status changes when secondary RN cannot be reached.
• Facilitates hospice transfer to in-patient setting, notifying hospital or skilled nursing facility admissions department/supervisor and/or emergency room of patient’s identity.
• Attempts to contact the patient’s assigned volunteer when the patient is actively dying.
• Notifies team members of all deaths on voicemail.
• Assesses client outcomes.
• Attends death, pronounces time of death, provides emotional support, provides post-mortem care and does patient discharge.
• Answers patient/family questions and concerns relative to hospice care and services.
• Teaches, supervises, and counsels patient/family/caregivers regarding physical care, symptom management, and pain control.
• Actively participates with the IDT in the development of care plan as appropriate. Attends IDT.
• Documents clearly and concisely in a timely manner.
• Receives report at initiation of shift and reports shift interventions to backup RN by 8:00 AM.
• Practices only within the designated Scope of Practice as defined by the Texas State Board.
• Recognizes and reports situations of potential harm to the patient.
• Participates in continuing education opportunities and in-services.
• Provides a safe and comfortable environment.
• Maintain the patient’s and family’s right to privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Works non-judgmentally with patients and families of various cultures, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds and lifestyles.
• Deals effectively with difficult situations by using negotiation skills to resolve conflict.
• Exhibits good listening and comprehension.
• Treats patients, families, and staff with respect and compassion.
• No gossip, does not harm others in conversation.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned.

This position requires endurance to perform tasks over long periods of work hours and the ability to perform essential functions without posing a "direct threat" in the workplace. Must be able to lift 55 pounds.