Triage Registered Nurse

The Triage Registered Nurse is responsible for identifying and coordinating patient/family needs and for providing preventive and supportive care to the terminally ill patient/family unit. The Triage Registered Nurse provides continuity of care to patients and families after regular office hours through telephone triage and coordinates patient care visits after hours to maintain continuity of care.

Essential Functions

• Responds to all patient and family telephone calls immediately.
• Participates in problem resolution with respect to all patient / family or employee complaints.
• Advise Executive Director or Director On-Call as required.
• Assess physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family within 24 hours of admission.
• Completes accurate and appropriate documentation of patient/family services within 24 hours of visit and maintains accuracy of electronic medical record including accuracy of medication profile.
• Coordinates care to the patient and family within the Interdisciplinary team and availability of all resources.
• Receives report on new referrals from Admissions RN.
• Administers medications and treatments prescribed by the attending physician and/or hospice physician.
• Coordinates staff visits based on the needs of the patient and makes visits when needed.
• Maintains call log throughout shift.
• Schedules and coordinates non-emergency visits to ensure staff productivity.
• Assures home deaths are attended and procedure for attendance at time of death is followed.
• Initiates and coordinates Continuous Care when indicated.
• Completes changes in Level of Care in Suncoast system.
• Report events to Triage Manager and Clinical Care Manager at start of next working day.
• Able to provide on-going assessments of physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family and initiates appropriate intervention or referral.
• Participate in the care planning process, updating care plans according to the needs of the patient.

* Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Other Duties

• Attends and participates in Interdisciplinary Team Meetings as required.
• Actively participates in quality assurance and performance improvement projects as directed by Team
• Participates in hospice activities such as Memorial Services, Community Education, etc., as requested by the Team Manager.
• Provide orientation on a regular basis to new employees.
• Ensure effective communication with Interdisciplinary Teams.
• Participates in the team responsibility of providing patient care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
• Consistently able to work calmly and maintain effectiveness in situations of high stress.
• Maintaining the ability to extend hospitality and patience while assisting patients, families, physicians and peers under stressful circumstances.
• Demonstrate adherence to Catholic Hospice, Inc. policies and procedures and pertinent State and Federal Rules and Regulations.
• Demonstrates working knowledge of symptom control and palliative care through documentation of nursing interventions and patient / family teaching within the Suncoast system.
• Demonstrates knowledge of hospice levels of care, Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits by providing appropriate documentation when the need arises.
• Provide accurate and appropriate documentation and submit daily.
• Ability to lift and move patients according to accepted nursing standards of body mechanics. (if applicable)
• Ability to travel to any location throughout South Florida as needed and expand territory as business needs dictate
• Attend home deaths as required and communicating with physician, funeral home, and team. (if applicable)
• Maintain your required licenses, certifications and mandatory skill updates.
• Comply with all policies, local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Provide other duties of healthcare team member.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

• May serve as an interim department leader depending on need

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 250+ pounds, walk, climb stair or ladders, stand on feet for extended periods of time, etc.

Disclaimer

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

EEOC Statement

CHS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Requirements

Knowledge & Experience Requirements

• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN); Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Clear and Active Registered Nurse license to practice in the state of Florida.
• 1-2 years of nursing experience preferred. Hospice nursing experience preferred.
• Certification in Hospice & Palliative Medicine (CHPN) preferred; required within two years of employment. (Eligible upon completion of 500 hours in last 12 months of hospice/palliative experience.)
• Must have knowledge of computer office/clinical software.
• Must be able to read, write and understand the English language.