Hospice Admissions RN

Reports to: Clinical Director

About the Role

The Admission RN plans, organizes, and directs hospice care, with a focus on community health education and experience. The professional nurse builds from community resources to plan and direct services that meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

Responsibilities

• Completes an initial, comprehensive, and ongoing assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs, including a full physical assessment and history of current and previous illnesses.
• Provides professional nursing care using all elements of the nursing process.
• Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by writing and initiating the plan of care, regularly re-evaluating needs, and revising the plan as necessary.
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis and develops a care plan with goals based on nursing diagnosis, incorporating palliative nursing actions.
• Includes the patient and family in the planning process and initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
• Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the plan of care.
• Counsels the patient and family on nursing and related needs, provides health care instructions, and assists with activities of daily living to promote self-sufficiency and comfort care.
• Acts as Case Manager when assigned, coordinating patient care for an assigned caseload.
• Completes, maintains, and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding the patient’s condition and care, including pain/symptom management changes and outcomes.
• Communicates with physicians regarding patient needs, reports changes in condition, and obtains/receives physician orders as required.
• Coordinates care with community health-related persons and teaches self-care techniques to patients and families.
• Provides medication, diet, and other instructions as ordered by the physician and utilizes opportunities for health counseling.
• Works with the interdisciplinary group to provide and maintain a safe environment and ensure continuity of care.
• Ensures arrangements for necessary equipment and services are available.
• Participates in quality assessment and performance improvement teams and activities.
• Fulfills obligations of requested or accepted case assignments.

Qualifications

• Experience in nursing, with an emphasis on community health education.
• Commitment to personal growth and development, maintaining and upgrading professional knowledge and practice skills through continuing education and inservice classes.