Hospice Admissions Registered Nurse

Primary Responsibilities

The Admissions RN works under the general direction of the DOCS and the attending physician in the provision of skilled nursing assessment, planning and care in identifying patient/family needs and for providing supportive care in accordance with the attending physician's orders and Crater Community Hospice, Inc.'s policies and procedures. This position's work schedule is 7-days on / 7-days off, 12-hours/day.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for assuming the role of Case Manager for all referrals and assisting families in all aspects of the referral and admissions process including working with other agencies to assure a smooth transition from acute care to hospice care, ordering authorized DME, determining medications related to the terminal prognosis and the arranging of any other resources needed to ensure the initial plan of care is completed as appropriate. Ensure contact with all referrals is attempted within 15 minutes.
• Initiates communication with attending physicians, other hospice staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient/family. Ensure the completion of all forms required to facilitate the admission process, including the required signatures within the time frames set by CCH policies and by state and CMS regulations.
• Determine the eligibility of all admissions consistent with CCH policies and admission criteria in conjunction with the Attending Physician and the Hospice Medical Director, preferably on the day the referral is received. All patients thought not to be eligible must be discussed with the Medical Director and the Director of Clinical Services prior to the referral of the patient to other resources. This action must be well documented and maintained in the Admissions Office for up to six months unless the client expires before this date.
• Obtain orders from physician concerning medications, treatments or other needs prior to transferring the client to the RN Case Manager. The Referral & Admissions Coordinator is responsible for the follow-up of these orders to obtain the physician signature within 15 days.
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with all referral sources including hospital Case Managers, nursing home staff, and assisted living facilities staff. Take ownership of situations while communicating with tact and sincerity.
• Maintains regular communication with the DOCS to review caseload.
• Attends IDG conferences and facilitates discussion of issues to update the care plan.
• Participates in Crater Community Hospice orientation and in-service training programs for hospice employees assigned to the nursing service.
• Participates in agency quality assurance reviews and evaluations of the nursing services and other community programs as requested to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care.

Knowledge, Skills, and Education Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing and licensed to practice in the state of Virginia.
• Bachelor's degree in nursing preferred.
• Experience of at least 1 current year as a registered nurse; some home health, hospice, oncology, or critical care preferred.
• Current CPR/BLS certification.
• Current driver's license in the state of Virginia.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and respond to the needs of patients and families in varied settings with a supportive, sensitive approach; ability to cope with family emotional stress and tolerant of individual lifestyles.
• Interviewing and assessment skills to evaluate patient and family coping abilities.
• Demonstrates familiarity with policies of the agency and rules and regulations of State and Federal bodies which aid in determining policies.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the organization's policies and procedures.
• Well-versed computer literacy with in-depth knowledge and experience with electronic medical records programs.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Situated in a professional medical environment and/or in patient homes of unknown environments yet may have the potential for locations in high crime areas, poor environmental conditions, and non-handicapped accessible sites. This role is frequently active with occasional lifting and/or carrying up to 50 lbs. The individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions. Frequent local travel with mileage stipend as required for patient care.

Crater Community Hospice, Inc. Mission Focus

All employees are responsible for extending the Crater Community Hospice mission: To share our passion for improving quality of life for those who are facing a life-limiting illness; as well as our core values of Compassion, Respect, Accountability, Teamwork, Empathy and Reliability.