Hospice RN (On-Call/Every Other Weekend) (10449)

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse will plan, organize, and direct the care of terminally ill patients by promoting patient comfort and optimizing quality of life. This professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct these services to meet the needs of terminally ill individuals and their families within the patient's home and their community.

Responsibilities

• Provide triage support and education to the patient and caregivers when needed.
• Provide health care instructions to the patient as appropriate to the assessment and plan of care.
• Prepare clinical notes and update the primary physician when necessary.
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
• Communicate with the physician regarding the patient's needs and report any changes in the patient's condition; obtain/receive physician's orders as required.
• Ensure that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Complete the initial assessment of the patient and family to determine hospice needs.
• Perform the admission process which includes signed legal forms, verbal physician certification for hospice service, completed IPOC, completed narrative notes of admission process, medication entry to computer, completed appropriate clinical summary, copied patient records to support hospice appropriateness, and copied Advanced Directives.
• Initiate the POC based on the patient and family/caregiver needs reflecting assessment data obtained to determine the nursing diagnosis and establish goals for care incorporating palliative nursing actions.
• Include both the patient and family/caregiver in the care planning process.
• Evaluate this POC regularly and revise as needed to reflect the patient and family/caregiver care needs.
• Complete, maintain and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient condition and care given at the time the assessment is done or care given.
• Record pain/symptom assessments and management, changes/outcomes to pain/symptom management as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Valid/active nursing license (RN).
• Valid CPR certification, required.
• Recent TB test, required.
• Prior home health care or acute care experience preferred.
• Management experience preferred but not required.
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Must be a licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order.
• Requires prolonged or considerable walking or standing and considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling or crouching.
• Must be able to lift, position or transfer patients and lift supplies and equipment.
• Requires visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.