Registered Nurse - Hospice

Job Description

Job Description

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) will provide direct patient care services to hospice patients and supportive care to the patient's family. The RN will manage an interdisciplinary group consisting of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, and support staff to enhance the quality of hospice care. Additionally, the RN will case manage all assigned patient clinical records.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assure the highest quality of care is provided and documented in accordance with the Plan of Care.
• Perform the initial and ongoing assessment of the patient.
• Help develop and implement the Hospice Plan of Care as prescribed by the physician and in conjunction with other members of the Interdisciplinary Group.
• Work closely with other members of the Interdisciplinary Group to provide comprehensive physical, psychosocial, educational, emotional, and spiritual services, including bereavement support to the patient and family.
• Report any change in the patient's condition to both the Attending Physician and Hospice Physician.
• Maintain an accurate and updated medical record, including all Interdisciplinary notes, Plans of Care, initial and ongoing assessments, and any other information pertinent to the care of the patient.
• Practice infection control measures and standard precautions.
• Monitor scheduling of all staff.
• Participate in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program.
• May be requested to participate in agency on-call schedule.
• Consistently promote the company's core values.
• This is a safety-sensitive position.
• Complete required Compliance annual training.
• Perform other activities as assigned.
• Attend staff meetings.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge pertaining to the management of pain and symptoms in the dying process.
• Make routine supervisory visits of, and with, all other team members at least monthly.
• Perform ongoing review and follow-up on assigned patient clinical records to assure quality services are provided, standards of practice are followed, and compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements is met and maintained.
• Maintain close contact with the patient's family and/or significant others to provide information, support, and continuity of care.
• Maintain primary control and professional management of each patient and act as primary liaison between physician, patient/family, and hospice team.
• Responsible for the education of the patient, family, or other caregivers in relation to needs identified on the Plan of Care, including medication administration, dressing changes, oxygen administration, Hospice philosophy, and care of the terminally ill patient.
• Supervise Aides.
• Perform a visit to the home at least every two weeks, with or without the Aide's presence, to assess the care and services provided.
• Prepare written assignments for Aides.

Required Skills & Experience

• A minimum of one (1) year of experience as an RN, either in an acute care hospital, oncology, long-term care, hospice, or home health. School internships and clinical hours may be considered as experience in individual cases.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families along with an understanding of hospice; ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of roles of all disciplines providing hospice services; excellent patient assessment skills.
• Knowledge of community resources; good oral and written communication skills; documentation and program management.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice; thorough knowledge of managed care principles, regulatory guidelines (i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, ACHC, and human resource management principles).
• Must be able to effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone/beeper. Must have and maintain transportation to be used for work.