Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered Nurse, RN

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 Registered Nurse, RN
• Follows VITAS policies and standards and practices within the scope of the RN license
• Reports any request to practice outside of scope of license to the manager/supervisor
• Performs supervision of nursing tasks delegated to Hospice Aides, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses and Volunteers
• Completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments including physical, psychosocial, spiritual and bereavement
• Identifies/utilizes resources, referrals and other visits/consults
• Completes documentation at the time of the event and at the location of care
• Provides education and training to patients, families, caregivers and referral sources
• Participates in patient care meetings and weekly team meetings
• Provides effective communication/shift reports
• Participates in bereavement support
• Participates in the on-call rotation and/or provides shifts during non-business hours
• Provides visits/shifts in program coverage area
• Works with IDG to develop, coordinate and follow the patients individualized plan of care
• Obtains physician orders when necessary
• Provides those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill
• Evaluates the outcome of services
• Delegates nursing tasks to Hospice Aides/Homemakers, Volunteers and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses
• Provides nursing care including nursing tasks that may be delegated to other roles
• Participates in and monitors patient and family care compliance activities
• Professionally manages/coordinates the hospice plan of care
• Provides and follows infection control practices
• Delivers care in accordance with the patients plan of care
• Participates in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program
• Gathers clinical data which is used for quality measures
• Develops and achieves professional growth goals and objectives
• Attends orientation and regularly scheduled in-services/educational conferences
• Participates in orientation of Hospice Aides, Volunteers and other IDG members
• Participates in training activities internally within VITAS and externally as assigned
• Provides customer service
• Maintains focus on the patient and family experience of care
• Serves as a patient and family advocate
• Reports patient/family/customer complaints to Team Manager
• Participates in patient/family/customer conflict resolution as applicable
• Represents the nursing profession, the VITAS site/location and VITAS overall in a positive manner

Job requirements include:

• Reliable transportation with adequate insurance coverage for driver and passengers
• Telephone available (cellular or land line)

Essential functions/physical demands include:

• Assist in lifting and transferring patients
• Lift objects in excess of 20 pounds
• Stand or walk in excess of one hour per day
• Talk and hear
• Close, distance vision and ability to adjust focus
• Sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch

Qualifications 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