Hospice Alliance
Job Title: Hospice House Nurse
Reports to: Palliative Care & Hospice House Manager
Hours: Shift are 7am to 7pm and 7pm to 7am
HOSPICE HOUSE NURSE GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Summary
The Hospice House Nurse is responsible for the care of hospice patients in accordance with the care plan
established by the interdisciplinary team. The nurse plans, coordinates, and provides care to patients residing in the hospice house facility.
Monitors, the effects of care on patient/family health status, evaluates the care provided and the need for revision. Acts as a liaison among the hospice patient, the attending physician, hospice medical director, volunteers, and all other members of the hospice interdisciplinary team
Physical Demands
Must have visual and hearing acuity. Must be able to communicate verbally. Physically active walking, standing, bending, lifting, and climbing stairs. Must be able to perform fully assisted transfers, with or without transfer devices.
Work Environment
The Hospice House Nurse primarily provides care in a residential hospice house setting. On occasion, the Hospice House Nurse may assist in the field. If assisting in the field, care is provided in patient homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other residential type settings. In these environments, there may be exposure to pets, smoke, minor hazards, blood borne pathogens and communicable diseases.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
- Provides nursing care to patients within their nursing scope of practice.
- Completes house admissions, discharges and deaths and all required documentation within their nursing scope of practice.
- Provides documentation of cares through charting in the electronic medical record and updates care plans as necessary.
- Provides care with a focus on patient comfort and, pain and symptom management.
- Administers and manages patients’ medications following policy and procedures.
- Maintain a cooperative working relationship with other personnel involved in providing care to the hospice house patients.
- Apprises the Hospice House manager or manager on-call of personnel or other house related issues in a timely manner.
- Participates in the weekend and holiday rotation.
- Provides patient and family and education.
- Performs timely administrative functions relating to the house such as, clinical records, mandatory abuse reporting requirements, and supervision of CNA’s and volunteers.
- Assist patients, family members or other clients with concern and empathy; respects confidentially and privacy and communicates in a courteous and respectful manner.
- 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. - Participation in Hospice Alliance town hall meetings, clinical team meetings, trainings, memorials, and other events.
- Complies with Hospice Alliance policies, standards of practice and operational guidelines.
- Performs other duties as assigned consistent with skills and training and the mission and goals of Hospice Alliance
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE/LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Valid license as a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse in the State of Wisconsin.
- Certification as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN or CHPLN) desired.
- Current Basic Life Support Certification.
- Prior palliative care, home health and/or hospice experience is desirable
- Minimum of one-year recent professional nursing experience is preferred.
- Able to cope with emotional stress and be tolerant of individual lifestyles.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Sensitive to the needs of terminally ill patients and families and one’s own feelings about dying and death.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills are essential.
- Critical thinking skills and ability to solve problems.
- Strong computer skills are required, such as, email, and prior experience working with electronic medical records,