On Call Registered Nurse (RN)

On-Call Registered Nurse

The On-Call Registered Nurse is a member of the interdisciplinary team and responsible for providing skilled nursing interventions and supportive care in patient homes on weekends, evenings, nights, and holiday on-call in accordance with the hospice interdisciplinary plan of care for each patient.

Education: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

Experience: Minimum of two years of nursing experience with a minimum of one year in hospice or home health.

Licensure: Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Arkansas.

Additional Requirements: Must be able to work rotating schedule 7 out of 14 days in a pay period; position is paid a salary based on an 80-hour pay period. Must also possess a valid Arkansas drivers license, car, and car insurance.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Assumes responsibility for weekends, evenings, nights and holiday on-call duty as scheduled and consistent with Arkansas Hospice policies and procedures.
2. Assumes primary responsibility for Arkansas Hospice home-based clients including assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating phases of the nursing process.
3. Initiates communication with attending physicians and/or Medical Director to report changes in patient/family and coordinate optimal hospice care for the patient and family.
4. Obtains data on physical, psychological, social and spiritual issues that may influence patient/family health status and incorporates that data into the interdisciplinary care plan as indicated.
5. Responsible for maintaining current patient records so that problems, plans, actions and goals are accurately and clearly stated and changes are reflected as they occur.
6. Monitors physical care of patients and instructs primary caregivers, volunteers and employed caregivers in ways to activate optimal physical comfort and provide emotional support.
7. Responds to medical and emotional crisis and/or death of patients and makes home visits to provide direct care as appropriate.
8. Attends the death, provides appropriate counsel at time of death, and notifies appropriate officials; may be responsible to pronounce death and complete and sign the death certificate.
9. Completes admission process and required documentation in an accurate and timely manner, in the electronic medical record, as needed.
10. Demonstrates familiarity with the hospice philosophy, agencys mission, policies, procedures, and the rules and regulations related to delivery of hospice care.
11. Performs triage with the caregiver/family regarding patient needs, pain crisis, end-of-life issues and death.
12. Completes documentation in the electronic medical record daily, as outlined by agency policy.
13. Is available by pager/cell phone at all times when on call. Pager/cell phone will remain on at all times in order to respond quickly.
14. All on call team members will be available to make patient visits at any time during their work shifts. Any on call nurse will be subject to respond to patient/family care needs in the patients place of residence regardless of the nurses current assignment (i.e., triage or runner assignments).
15. On call staff may be reassigned other duties within the on call teams responsibilities as needed to insure patient care coverage. (i.e., A triage nurse may be reassigned a runner assignment as need arises or runner nurse may be reassigned to triage patient calls as needed.)
16. Reports to Administrator-on-Call as needed.
17. Actively participates in QAPI program.
18. Maintains strict confidentiality at all times.
19. Utilizes and models excellent customer service skills at all times; seeks opportunities to assist patients, families and co-workers; demonstrates teamwork and cooperation.
20. Accepts direction and follows instructions from supervisor; seeks additional information as needed; works with minimal supervision.
21. Adheres to all organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
22. Continually meets organizational standards for attendance and punctuality; notifies supervisor in a timely manner when employee will be absent or late for work.
23. Attends all required meetings and in-services; seeks opportunities for additional professional development activities as appropriate.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

This section describes what knowledge, skills and abilities an employee in this position should currently possess. This list may not be complete for all knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.

1. Knowledge of palliative care with emphasis on symptom control associated with terminal illness.

2. Knowledge of the holistic approach toward patient care and the nursing process as it applies to hospice patients and families.

3. Knowledge and acceptance of hospice philosophy and principles of care.

4. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.

5. Ability to recognize both positive and negative aspects of death and grief.

6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

7. Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers and other customers.

8. Ability to follow basic safety policies and procedures.

9. Ability to use good judgment and to maintain confidentiality of information.

10. Ability to work as a team player.

11. Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication.

12. Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.

13. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

This position is designated as a safety sensitive position because it requires the regular handling of confidential and/or proprietary Arkansas Hospice and patient information, performing life-threatening procedures, monitoring and/or operating equipment used to perform medical procedures, and/or working with controlled substances and/or medicine. Any lapse of attention could have a significant impact on Arkansas Hospice and/or its patients, and could result in injury, illness, or death. For the safety and health of yourself and others, you must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and concentrate for long periods of time while performing life-threatening procedures, monitoring and/or operating equipment used to perform medical procedures, and/or working with controlled substances and/or medicine.