The registered nurse plans, organizes, and directs hospice care services for patients within their homes and communities. They are responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing care plans, and coordinating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure quality end-of-life care.
Requirements summary
Candidates must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing and hold a current state license, CPR certification, and a valid driver's license. One year of nursing experience is recommended, with a preference for prior hospice care experience.
Shift: AnySummary The registered nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individual and families within their homes and communities. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of the terminal diagnosis on the patient’s physical, functional, psychosocial & environmental needs and activities of daily living to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es). Applies specific criteria for admission and re-certification to hospice care to establish appropriate levels of care and the patient’s eligibility. Assess the ability of the caregiver to meet the patient’s immediate needs upon admission and throughout care. Evaluates risk for pathological grief, cultural and spiritual implications and verbal and non-verbal communication patterns. Provides specialized nursing skills related to palliative and end-of-life care by utilizing all elements of nursing process.
Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by: Writing and initiating plan of care Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs and response to care Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change. Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis. Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process. Determines scope and frequency of services needed based on acuity and patient/family needs. Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care. Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs. Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan. Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care. Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload referring to other services as needed. Provides specialized hospice training to other staff, family members and informal caregivers to ensure adequate care. Communication Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition, progress toward established goal(s) and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate. Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required. Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan. Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet, disease process, end-of-life care, the process of dealing with issues of ethical concern and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group. Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient. Coordinates all patient/family services and prioritization of needs with the members of the interdisciplinary team. Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care. Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver. Attends interdisciplinary group meetings. Additional Duties Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy. Evaluates own needs for support and using identified system(s) to meet the need. Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available. Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required. Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes. Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments. Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities. QualificationsQualifications and Experience Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. (Diploma or transcripts to be provided to agency) One year nursing experience recommended, experience in hospice care recommended. Current licensure in State, CPR certification and valid driver’s license must be provided and kept on file. Responsible for supervising hospice aides. Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist. Ability to work with a team and involve IDT collaboration for all Hospice patients. Current health certificate, TB test, auto insurance and must be kept on file. A criminal background check must be performed before hire. Complete and pass skills evaluation.
Physical demands and work environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical demands: While performing duties of this job, the employee is required to perform job related duties which may require: lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, pulling, talking, hearing, and the ability to provide partial or complete assistance with activities of daily living without assistance from another healthcare worker or caregiver. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.
