Hospice Nurse

Job Summary

Responsible for serving as the central point of telephone triage for hospice patient and family related issues after business hours, weekends, and holidays. Provides clinical assistance, nursing care/instructions/support to patients and families in their homes, nursing homes and hospice contracted inpatient facilities; to assess for need and level of care; to plan for and coordinate care needs with appropriate agency staff and community resources. Completes all visits as needed and communicates the patient’s progress with other disciplines; directs, supervises and instructs LPN in personal care to the patient.

Essential Job Functions

• Provides home and/or facility visits as needed for patient assessment, treatment, and support.
• Visits may include pronouncement of patient death, responding to referrals, admitting patients and crisis management.
• Plans for comprehensive service to patients and their families, develops and/or revises nursing care plans, including goals in conjunction with the patient’s physician.
• Completes phone triage patient related calls using clinical knowledge and judgment.
• Ensures problem resolution at point of contact to the maximum extent possible.
• Executes good decision making and sets priorities.
• Works cohesively with interdisciplinary team members to meet/exceed customer needs and maximize efficiencies.
• Represents the John Knox Village Hospice program to every constituency and public in a professional manner.
• Maintains a current knowledge of hospice and community programs/services.
• Maintains and completes appropriate care coordination notes for phone calls and communication.
• Reports on-call activities to the Village Hospice team at the end of each call shift.
• Maintains and completes appropriate on-call log documentation as well as care coordination notes for phone calls and communication, visit notes, and other pertinent clinical information.
• Affords assistance, provides, or arranges for delivery of medications and supplies needed after business hours, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings following on-call period for full team discussion, consultation and evaluation of patient/family needs.
• Acts as a preceptor in the orientation of new nursing staff as directed.
• Attends staff meetings and educational in-services per agency requirements.
• Performs care consistent with Village Hospice standards of practice. Utilizes other team members as appropriate.
• Adheres to all safety regulations and requirements.
• Handles stress well and gets along with others within the workplace and with customers outside the department.
• Maintains acceptable standards of workplace conduct.

Licenses and Certifications

• This job requires a combination of education, training and experience that is acquired through the completion of an accredited School of Nursing.
• Must be licensed as RN in Missouri and/or Kansas.
• Must be willing to obtain licensure in other state within 90 days of hire.
• Incumbent may hold a multi-state license from any other nurse licensure compact state that allows them to practice in the state of Missouri and Kansas.
• Certified Hospice Palliative Nurse (CHPN) preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or ability to obtain prior to direct patient contact.

Knowledge and Skills

• Two years recent experience as a professional nurse preferred with at least one in hospice.
• Experience triaging patient related calls preferred.
• Strong telephone interviewing, assessment, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work in a field setting and exhibited ability to make sound nursing judgments.
• Knowledge of physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their caregivers.
• Knowledge of physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their caregivers.
• Intermediate computer software knowledge/skill level.
• Must be able to assess data reflecting the client’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each client's requirements relative to their age-specific needs.
• Must be able to read, write, and communicate in English adequately to complete required reports, interpret Plan of Care instructions, and interact with the client/family, physicians, other caregivers, and staff.
• Must have the ability to exhibit professionalism, tact and patience when communicating with patients, clients, family’s subordinate staff, staff at all levels and components of the organization, business associates, and the public.
• Must have knowledgeable of the regulations associated with prevention of occupational disease and injury, including the exercise of universal precautions and the prevention of contamination.
• Must have the ability to plan and organize duties, including managing multiple tasks; ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions; and ability to work independently, with a minimum of supervision.

Special Working Conditions

• Ability to provide coverage 7 nights a week, with 7 nights off.
• During business days, coverage begins at 4:30 pm until 8:00 am.
• Weekends and holidays, coverage begins at 8:00 am until 8:00 am the following day.
• The associate will be subject to outdoor elements while accessing a patient’s residence.
• Will travel daily in the greater Kansas City metro area; must be able to provide own transportation.
• May be exposed to infectious diseases.

Physical and Mental Demands

• Maximum occasional lift of 50 lbs from floor to waist level; maximum occasional lift of 10 lbs from floor to shoulder; maximum occasional carry of 5 lbs for 100 ft; maximum occasional push/pull horizontal of 40 lbs at 36 in height for 100 ft; maximum frequent push/pull horizontal of 10 lbs at 46 in for 100 ft; maximum occasional grip force of 40 lbs; maximum occasional lateral pinch force of 15 lbs; maximum occasional climb of 8 in; frequent forward reach; frequent bend; frequent fine motor coordination; occasional foot coordination; occasional balance; frequent sitting; continuous standing; and continuous walking.

Supervision Received

Receives supervision from Village Hospice Clinical Manager

Supervision Given

Supervises and instruction given to LPN

Equal Opportunity Employer

EEO/D/V Tobacco-free Post-offer background check and health screening required Questions can be directed to careers@jkv.org