Job Title: Hospice and Palliative Care RN
Reports to: Clinical Team Manager
Hours: Core work hours for this position are between the hours of 10:30am to 7:00pm. Ability to assist afterhours and in the house during times of critical need is required. This position also participates in the weekend and holiday rotations and participates in the late admissions rotation when covering for an admissions team member who was scheduled to work as the late nurse.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Summary
The Hospice and Palliative RN plans and delivers care to patients utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, interventions, implementation, and evaluation; and effectively interacts with patients, families, and other interdisciplinary team members while maintaining standards of professional nursing and clinical competency.
Visits/Assignments made are directed and guided by the RN responsible for leading the shift. Hospice and Palliative Care RNs will perform consultation and admission visits to assess patient’s needs, complete the admission assessment, contractual agreements and all necessary documentation. In addition, they will conduct routine and emergent visits to Hospice and Palliative Care patients. Hospice and Palliative Care RNs travel to the patient’s place of residence to conduct the nursing visit. This position is a full-time salaried/exempt level position. The position also participates in assigned weekend and holiday rotations.
Physical Demands
• Must have visual and hearing acuity.
• Must be able to communicate verbally.
• May be exposed to pets, smoke, minor hazards, blood borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
• Physically active walking, standing, bending, lifting, and climbing stairs.
• Must be able to perform fully assisted transfers, with or without transfer devices.
Work Environment
• Provides direct patient care in patient homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other residential type settings.
• Travel is required and reliable transportation, proof of automobile insurance upon hire and at each renewal and maintaining a safe driving record is required.
• Exposure to inclement weather.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Responsible for completion of all elements of the admission process and patient care until the RN Case Manager has been assigned.
• Responsible for assessing the patient’s medical status, planning, teaching and implementing immediate medical interventions on the day of admission.
• Initiates the Plan of Care.
• Provides patient and family education.
• Completes Medication Reconciliation, coordinates medications and DME needs.
• Collaborates with attending physician, Hospice Medical Director, Palliative Care NP, Director of Operations, Social Worker and other involved personnel regarding the patient’s admission and follow up needs.
• Performs timely administrative functions and documents all patient information in a timely and accurate manner. Communicates information, issues and concerns in patient care meetings to assure smooth transition and continuity of care with other assigned staff, including a detailed report to the assigned Case Manager and assigned Social Worker.
• Provides consultation and emotional/physical support to patients/families regarding Hospice services and the disease processes.
• Serves as backup to Intake Coordinator as requested.
• Assesses home care needs, being aware of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects and gathers data on social, economic and cultural factors which may influence health, well-being and quality of life.
• Participates in the agency’s on-call rotation as prescribed by the needs of the agency to provide nursing service to clients when required outside of office hours.
• Complies with Hospice Alliance policies, standards of practice and operational guidelines.
• Participate in hospice and community health programs as requested to promote the growth and understanding of the hospice concept. This includes but is not limited to participation in the Hospice Alliance observation program that provides other health care professionals the opportunity to observe and learn about hospice care, college partnerships, and other Hospice Alliance sponsored education events.
• Establish a CNA plan of care as well as indirectly and directly supervising the plan of care per regulations.
• Participation in Hospice Alliance town hall meetings, clinical team meetings, trainings, memorials and other events.
• Conduct skilled nurse visits during periods of down-time in the admissions department.
• Maintain the dignity of the dying patient and support the patients and family’s unique spiritual and cultural beliefs.
• Support, instruct/train and educate the patient, family and caregivers.
• Performs other duties as assigned consistent with skills and training and the mission and goals of Hospice Alliance.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN preferred.
• Valid license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Wisconsin.
• Certification as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) desired.
• Current Basic Life Support Certification.
• Valid Driver’s License and car insurance.