RN Hospice Admission - Hospice

Job Summary

The Hospice admission RN is a licensed professional nurse responsible for educating patients and families about hospice services and the palliative approach to terminal care, facilitating hospice admission, performing assessments, developing plans of care, and coordinating resources to support the physical and emotional needs of patients and families.

Core Responsibilities And Essential Functions

• Educate the patient and family regarding hospice care and services leading to an informed decision for admission to hospice
• Provide an explanation of hospice admission criteria including philosophy of palliative care
• Explain the hospice Medicare/Medicaid Benefit or benefits provided by alternate reimbursement sources
• Explain the patients financial responsibilities
• Determine if the patients goals for care are compatible with the hospice care model
• Complete the admission process
• Contact the patients identified attending physician to obtain verbal certification and admission orders
• Perform a head to toe assessment and record findings focusing on the symptoms related to the terminal illness and disease progression
• Review any existing medical records to identify comorbidities
• Review the Medication profile and evaluate the effectiveness of medications to manage the existing symptoms/pain
• Cookordinate resources to support the physical needs/ safety of the patient care in the home
• Based upon the physical assessment, order the required assistive devices, and standard durable medical equipment
• Per protocol, order the emergency medication kit
• Educate the family regarding contacting hospice providers and obtaining after hours care
• With input from the patient/family, develop the initial plan of care specific to individualized patient/family needs
• Determine the visit frequencies that will best meet those needs
• Introduce the concept of interdisciplinary team and the roles of each team member
• Provide emotional support to patient and family related to the transition to hospice care, recognizing the anticipatory grief and complex emotional impact of the hospice admission
• Determine the patients advance directives and desired code status
• Collaborate with the team members regarding the admission and initial plan of care
• Consult the hospice Medical Director regarding the admission, and the Plan of Care
• Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct