Hospice Registered Nurse - PRN- Burlington/Walworth and surrounding areas

Major Responsibilities

• Nurse/Patient Relationship: Develops and maintains a therapeutic relationship throughout the healthcare continuum
• 1)Identifies the need for various communication styles and seeks assistance in utilizing the most appropriate strategy
• 2)Identifies factors affecting patient’s physical and psychosocial comfort & attends to these needs per standards
• 3)Identifies the need for patient and family to participate in care. Seeks assistance, as appropriate, to assess patient and family readiness to participate
• 4)Identifies the need for individualized, holistic approach to care. Seeks out resources to meet patient needs.
• Assuring/Improving Quality Care: Facilitates the patient and family’s right to receive quality, cost effective care
• 1)Identifies patient and family concerns and issues. Seeks assistance as needed to advocate for the patient and family
• 2)Identifies current literature in area of practice
• 3)Incorporates nursing standards of care into practice
• 4)Identifies and reports potential or actual safety issues
• 5)Meets regulatory and mandatory requirements on the unit
• Patient/Staff Education: Demonstrates a commitment to meeting the learning needs of patients and families. Utilizes appropriate resources to meet those needs and achieve positive patient outcomes. Assists in creating an environment that promotes educational growth opportunities for nursing peers and colleagues.
• 1)Identifies patient and family learning needs. Initiates and evaluates teaching using patient teaching protocols, patient care standards and critical paths. Seeks assistance as appropriate.
• 2)Recognizes own abilities and contributes to a learning environment
• Nursing Process: Demonstrates the use of nursing process as a problem-solving model.
• 1)Completes assessment and identifies appropriate patient problem.
• 2)Develops, implements, and evaluates plan of care on assigned patients. Utilizes resources and validates information to maintain standards of clinical practice
• 3)Prioritizes and organizes patient care and ensures follow-through with planned care
• 4)Demonstrates the skill and judgment necessary to safely implement interventions and procedures as necessary for the care of the patient and integrates the medical treatment plan into the nursing plan of care
• 5)Applies ethical decision making.
• 6)Monitors for confidentiality and assures appropriate business conduct.
• 7)Delegates correctly to unlicensed assistive personnel.
• 8)Seeks resources for disruptive behavior that impedes care delivery.
• Leadership/Collaboration/Professional Development: Demonstrates respect and understanding for peers and other clinical disciplines and participates as an effective member of the patient care team to formulate an integrated approach to care. Demonstrates leadership behaviors and is committed to the development of self and others.
• 1)Contributes to effective operation of the unit
• 2)Identifies effective communication and feedback skills. Seeks assistance as appropriate.
• 3)Sets professional practice goals with guidance. Begins to explore opportunities for professional growth.
• 4)Earns a minimum of 5 contact hours per year

Licensure

• Nurse, Registered (RN)
• Current CPR
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Education/Experience Required

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing
• Earn 5.0 continuing education credits annually
• 1 year of medical nursing experience with various age groups.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Good documentation skills.
• Computer skills
• Good time management and organizational skills
• Familiarity with patient care equipment

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts in order to accommodate staffing
• Ability to take “on call” assignments.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and complete work within short timeframes.
• Ability to transport objects and equipment
• Ability to respond quickly to patient needs and work at fast pace
• Work environment includes probability of exposure to adverse, hazardous, or unpleasant conditions while caring for the sick
• Routinely works with potentially infectious specimens and patients
• Ability to respond to patients in a timely manner
• Ability to lift up to 100 pounds occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds frequently and/or in excess of 20 pounds constantly
• Must be able to travel to all areas within the Advocate service area in all extremes of weather on all types of roads. Exposed to widely varying social and environmental conditions in patient’s neighborhoods and homes. Must be willing to work occasional overtime if needed. Required to make visits to private residences which may not be accessible to people with disabilities.
• Must be able to assist with ambulation including turning and transferring patients up to 200 pounds
• If position has direct patient care or direct patient contact the following lifting requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 06/01/2015. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.