Hospice RN Admissions

Patient Care

• Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs.
• Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Utilizes the nursing process to provide professional nursing care.
• Affirms and evaluates patient’s status by writing and initiating a plan of care, regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs, participating in revising the plan of care as necessary, initiating the plan of care and making necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis and develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions.
• Includes the patient and the family in the planning process, initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures, administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care, counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs, provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan, assists the patient with the activities of daily living, and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

Communication

• Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given.
• Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
• Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate.
• Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers.
• Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.