HHC/Hospice LPN

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Provides nursing services in the homes of critically, chronically, and terminally ill patients under the direction of a HHC/Hospice Agency RN; and under a medical plan of treatment derived from physician’s orders and registered nurse assessment following all applicable laws, regulations, and agency policies and procedures.  Participates in the development and revision of the patient’s Plan of Care.

Prepares, dispenses, and monitors the effects of medications prescribed by a physician and according to agency policies and procedures.

Takes vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, oximetry, and blood pressure rates.) Provides routine patient care and treatments.  Assists the patient with activities of daily living and facilitates efforts towards self sufficiency and independence.

Observes, evaluates, and reports changes in the patients’ physical and emotional condition to the registered nurse and physician.

Evaluates, implements, and maintains a safe environment for the client.

Coordinates and works with the family and other health care personnel to provide continuity of patient care and utilization of community resources.

Reinforces teaching to the patient and family members about medications, diet, treatments, self-care techniques, coping and preventative health measures, in the home environment. Works with the family and home health care/hospice teams to meet the physical and emotional/spiritual needs of the patient and family.

Completes tasks as delegated by the registered nurse in accordance with completed competencies, including but not limited to: basic INR’s, venipunctures, and wound vacs.

Identify and report patient’s pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management from previously developed pain management plan. 

Carries out the pain management and symptom management plan to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Notifies the registered nurse when pain is not manageable on the current medications. Coordinates services with other professionals and service providers, and for Hospice, the Interdisciplinary Group to assure a wholistic approach to patient and family needs.

Maintains timely, accurate, and complete records of patient care.  Records care and treatment given and records changes in patient’s condition.  Prepares and submits records and reports according to agency policy.

Attends all mandatory trainings, in-services, and staff meetings.

Obtains supplies for patients as needed.

It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties an employee may be required to perform.  The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities, but contributes to the oversight and guidance of HHC/Hospice Agency Aides, in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures and applicable laws. 

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience        

Graduation from an accredited licensed practical nursing program. One to two years of related experience, home care/hospice experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

ICD-10-CM coding experience or willing to become ICD-10 Home Health Coding proficient.

Language Skills                   

Ability to read and interpret documents such as Plans of Care, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, professional journals, and procedure manuals.  Ability to document care and treatment given and record changes in patient’s condition.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  

Ability to communicate and present information effectively, cooperate, and respond to common inquiries or complaints from patients, patient’s family, physician, health care professionals, co-workers, or the general public.  

Mathematical Skills                   

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions in practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Ability to be flexible in responding to the needs of patients/families, staff members, and other health care providers.  

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Outlook and Excel, and Electronic Health Records.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

Current licensure from the State of Wisconsin as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Current Wisconsin Driver’s License, with access to a dependable automobile and carrying at least the minimum automobile insurance coverage.

CPR Certification.

Other Skills and Abilities            

Comprehensive knowledge and skills in current nursing theory and safe nursing practices.

Good knowledge of Home Health Care principles and Hospice philosophy.

Ability to work well with others and to function effectively as a team member in providing total nursing care.

Self-directed with ability to provide timely documentation showing medical necessity.

Excellent knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.

Ability to work well with a diverse patient caseload, function in a variety of circumstances with limited supervision, set work priorities, and use sound judgment.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, families, medical,

community, staff, and the general public.

Ability to seek and utilize supervision/consultation effectively.

Ability to hold in confidence all personal and medical knowledge of the patients.  

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear; reach with hands and arms; stand and walk.  The employee is frequently required to sit, bend, and push and pull; and occasionally stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally exert force in excess of 100 pounds and transfer patients with weights greater than 100 pounds.  Frequently performs tasks which require hand-eye coordination.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. 

Ability to wear gloves, masks, and other protective equipment.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to weather conditions; hazards of driving; unclean inside environmental conditions; and difficult interpersonal interaction with exposure to potentially violent patients. May be exposed to infections, contagious diseases, and the risk of blood borne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.