Hospice Weeknight Registered Nurse

About the role

Assesses, interprets, plans, implements and evaluates patients according to the patient's age, diagnosis, and prognosis. Effectively and efficiently manages the assessment of new patients and coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team and performs follow up visits when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Assess, interpret, plan, implement and evaluate patients according to the patient's age, diagnosis, and prognosis
• Effectively and efficiently manage the assessment of new patients and coordinate care with an interdisciplinary team and perform follow up visits when necessary
• Appropriately communicate with the physician (Attending and Hospice) regarding the patient's needs, response to treatment, and changes in the patient's condition; obtain/receive physician orders as required
• Work closely with other members of the IDG, and in cooperation with family/caregiver to provide holistic physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual services, including bereavement support to the patient and family to achieve the highest quality of care
• Respond promptly to on-call patient needs, including questions, concerns, symptoms, and requests for visits and death visits
• Organize and perform work effectively and efficiently
• Maintain and adjust schedule to enhance agency performance
• Demonstrate a daily commitment to the values of the agency
• Demonstrate positive interpersonal relations in dealing with all members of the agency
• Maintain and promote customer satisfaction
• Effectively demonstrate the mission, vision, and values of the Agency on a daily basis

Quality of work standards

• Utilizing all aspects of the Nursing Process (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation):
  • Develop nursing intervention based on physiological needs and clinical assessment appropriate for the patient's age and developmental stage
  • Provide and/or facilitate beginning education according to the Plan of Care and within the level of understanding and developmental age for both the patient and his/her family
  • In collaboration with the patient/family and the physician, perform and document a thorough, timely initial assessment to determine the eligibility for hospice and to identify needs and problems based on age and prognosis
  • Collaborate with the patient, physician (Attending and Hospice) and other members of the interdisciplinary team in developing an individualized plan of care appropriate to patient's age and clinical status
  • Implement interventions in a manner consistent with agency policy and discipline standards; evaluate patient response to interventions according to agency policy
  • Obtain physician orders and utilize data collected during the admission assessment; agency teaching guidelines and appropriate nursing skills to implement and follow an established plan of care
• Effectively and efficiently managing the care of new admissions and coordinating care with interdisciplinary team:
  • Plan admission process the day before admission when possible by calling patient and gathering necessary supplies and paperwork
  • Conference with case manager and other members of interdisciplinary team regarding the status of patient and provide appropriate paperwork to follow the plan of care
  • Make appropriate referrals to other disciplines when indicated and provide information related to patient's status
  • Appropriately inform the physician (Attending and Hospice) and other members of interdisciplinary team of any changes in patient's condition, safety issues, or other complications that might impede the plan of care
  • Inform supervisor of any potential or actual client concerns, risk management issues and referrals to Child/Adult Protective Services 100% of time
  • Provide scheduled and PRN visits to patients when requested by the Management Team
• Appropriately communicating information in accordance with agency policies and procedures:
  • Complete all forms accurately and in accordance with agency guidelines/policies
  • Appropriately describe the patient's functional limitations to justify hospice eligibility
  • Document all verbal orders for new or changed orders according to agency guidelines
  • Complete clinical notes in accordance with agency guidelines and time frames
  • Consistently describe interdisciplinary, interagency, and intraagency communication and coordination of services as per agency guidelines
  • Document involvement of the patient and family in the development of the plan of care
• Contributing to program effectiveness:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the interdisciplinary team approach and continuum of care in accordance with the hospice mission
  • Incorporate recommendations and goals of other disciplines and patient/family into nursing visits
  • Demonstrate willingness and ability to accommodate agency needs in order to provide optimum patient care
  • Accept constructive criticism as evidenced by implementation of suggested actions for improved performance
  • Promote change and be proactive in suggesting ideas and new ways of doing things
  • Demonstrate ability to prioritize and enhance services during fluctuating patient census

Productivity and time management standards

• Organizing and performing work effectively and efficiently:
  • Participate in continuous performance improvement and complete all required educational programs for the Agency and profession
  • Recognize and perform duties in an independent manner
  • Accept personal responsibility for the completion and quality of work outcomes
  • Meet assigned deadlines
  • Maintain a clean and safe environment
• Maintaining and adjusting schedule to enhance team performance:
  • Report to work on time and return promptly from errands, breaks, and meals
  • Manage personal work schedule and time off to promote smooth agency/unit operations
  • Assist other team members to ensure completion of all work assignments
  • Demonstrate flexibility with changing workload/assignments

Teamwork standards

• Communicate in a positive and productive manner
• Demonstrate respect for team members
• Manage stress and personal feelings without a negative impact on the team
• Maintain positive attitude about assignments and team members
• Promote professional/personal growth of co-workers by sharing knowledge and resources
• Work collaboratively and cooperate with other agencies/units

Mission, vision, and values standards

• Maintaining and promoting customer satisfaction:
  • Respond to all customers in a courteous, sensitive and respectful manner
  • Abide by the confidentiality and ethics policies of Well Care Hospice
  • Participate in community outreach activities that promote goals and objectives of the agency
• Demonstrating customer service standards of courtesy, efficiency, and presentation:
  • Practice personal cost containment by responsible use of equipment, supplies, and resources
  • Complete the review period without a formal disciplinary action
  • Present a clean and neat appearance in personal attire and one's work area
  • Perform job in accordance with documented procedures established to maintain the safety and health of patients, employees, and visitors and demonstrate compliance in the proper wearing and use of protective clothing and equipment to conform to the OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Standard; report any exposure to the appropriate Manager in a timely manner

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited or approved school of nursing, either an AD, Diploma, or BSN program
• Licensure/Certifications: Current Registered Nurse license in NC, NC driver's license with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization, and a current American Heart Association CPR certification
• Experience: Minimum of one year's clinical experience required; hospice experience preferred
• Essential Technical/Motor Skills: Working knowledge of Word, E-mail, typing of 30 wpm, basic technical or medical knowledge of home health billing requirements. Advanced customer service skills to respond with simple answers
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to work independently as well as effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Essential Physical Requirements: Ability to transfer and/or maneuver objects weighing at least 50 pounds in the assessment and implementation of patient care. Requires frequent pushing, moving, lifting of patients. Positioning of patients, giving patients baths and ambulating patients expending much physical effort. Occasionally requires reaching overhead, stair climbing and fine motor manipulation
• Essential Mental Abilities: Must be able to assess a patient's condition, formulate a plan of care, select appropriate interventions, evaluate patient's response to care/treatment, and to explain/teach patients about their disease progression and end of life care. Requires higher level of mental faculties accompanied by short- and long-term memory. Able to prioritize duties, learn new skills and techniques in patient care
• Essential Sensory Requirements: Ability to visually assess patients and to utilize sight and hearing to implement and evaluate plan of care, and effectively communicate with patients, families, physician, and staff
• Exposure to Hazards: Noise, exposure to blood borne pathogens and body fluids, infectious diseases, and needle puncture wounds. May be exposed to dangerous animals and traffic hazards while home visiting. May encounter patients and other situations which present a potential threat to personal safety. May encounter temperature changes and weather extremes

Schedule

Monday - Thursday, 5pm - 8am, as agreed upon by director, not to exceed 72 hours, with on call responsibilities