Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse, RN, is a member of the interdisciplinary team who work together to meet the physical, medical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of hospice patients and families facing terminal illness and bereavement. The Registered Nurse, RN, is designated to provide coordination of care, ensure continuous assessment of each patients and family's needs and implementation of the interdisciplinary plan of care.

Job responsibilities include case management and supervision for the Registered Nurse, RN, which involves following VITAS policies and standards, practicing within the scope of the RN license, and ensuring compliance with hospice eligibility requirements. The RN will perform supervision of nursing tasks delegated to Hospice Aides, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, and Volunteers per the plan of care. The RN will complete initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments including physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement in order to provide palliation of end-of-life symptoms. The RN will appropriately identify/utilize resources, referrals such as PT, OT, Home Health, Dietary, Pharmacy, Supplies, Home Medical Equipment, and other visits/consults. Documentation will be completed at the time of the event and at the location of care unless otherwise directed. The RN will provide education and training to patients, families, caregivers and referral sources in the care of the patient, including pain management. The RN will participate in patient care meetings as assigned, weekly team meetings, and bereavement support. The RN will participate in the on-call rotation and/or provide shifts during non-business hours such as evenings, weekends and holidays based upon program-identified needs. The RN will provide visits/shifts in program coverage area, work with IDG to develop, coordinate, and follow the patients individualized plan of care, and obtain physician orders when necessary. The RN will provide those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill, evaluate the outcome of services, and appropriately delegate nursing tasks to Hospice Aides/Homemakers, Volunteers, and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses.

The RN will participate in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program and related activities as assigned, including participation in Performance Improvement Project(s) (PIP) and gathering clinical data which is used for quality measures. The RN will develop and achieve professional growth goals and objectives personally and per Team Manager reviews, attend orientation and regularly scheduled in-services/educational conferences as assigned, participate in orientation of Hospice Aides, Volunteers and other IDG members as assigned, participate in training activities internally within VITAS and externally as assigned, provide customer service, maintain focus on the patient and family experience of care, serve as a patient and family advocate, report patient/family/customer complaints to Team Manager, participate in patient/family/customer conflict resolution as applicable, and represent the nursing profession, the VITAS site/location and VITAS overall in a positive manner.

The RN has reliable transportation with adequate insurance coverage for driver and passengers, and has telephone available (cellular or land line). The physical demands for the Registered Nurse, RN described in this job description 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 the Registered Nurse, RN, the employee is regularly required to assist in lifting and transferring patients, as required, lift objects in excess of 20 pounds, stand or walk in excess of one hour per day, talk and hear, and sit and stoop, kneel, and crouch. Specific vision abilities required for the Registered Nurse, RN include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Qualifications for the Registered Nurse, RN include currently licensed to practice nursing in the state where the VITAS program is located, a minimum of two years of nursing experience in hospice, home health, or community health in the last five years, and equivalent experience or licensure may be considered. Reports directly to the Team Manager.