Hospice RN

General Purpose

Plans, organizes, directs and provides hospice care to meet the identified needs of patients/families in accordance with Interim HealthCare Hospice policies and procedures, accepted standards of nursing practice and palliative care, and applicable law and regulation.

Essential Functions

• Completes an initial/comprehensive assessment of the patient/family to determine hospice needs which includes a history of current and previous illness(es), as well as a physical assessment of the patient, with emphasis on the management of pain and other symptoms.
• Completes ongoing assessments of the patient’s physical status and the psychosocial status of the patient/family.
• Initiates and develops a plan of care in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), the patient/family and the attending physician.
• Makes necessary revisions to the IDG plan of care as the patient’s/family’s status and needs change.
• Primarily responsible for the coordination of care among IDG members and other healthcare providers external to the IDG, to ensure the continuous assessment of the patient/family needs, as well as the implementation of the IDG plan of care to guide the delivery of services and achieve the goals of hospice care.
• Evaluates and coordinates the need for services provided to the patient/family in accordance with the IDG plan of care.
• Facilitates the consideration of another level of care (i.e. inpatient, respite, continuous care) when indicated by the patient’s/family’s status/needs.
• Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician and in accordance with nursing standards of practice.
• Ensures that equipment, supplies, drugs and biologicals and other necessary items and services are available.
• Provides education and interventions to support the effective management of the patient’s pain and other physical symptoms as well as assesses the patient/family’s response to intervention and treatment.
• Provides education/instructions to the patient/family in accordance with the IDG plan of care.
• Directs the services provided by and supervises the LPN/LVN, Hospice Aide, and Homemaker assigned to the patient/family.
• Completes accurate and timely documentation of patient/family services provided.
• Regularly attends Interdisciplinary Group meetings.
• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the office on-call policy.
• Actively participates in the quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• May have access to personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization/department.

Requirements

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Licensed to practice as a RN in the state in which employed. License is active and in good standing.
• Twelve (12) months of accumulated experience as a registered nurse within the last five (5) years or, if no experience within the last five (5) years, evidence of current (within the last 12 months) clinical knowledge as deemed appropriate by the DHCS.

o If a new graduate, 1200 verified hours of employment as a graduate or registered nurse within the last twelve (12) months or evidence of completion of a company-approved Preceptor Program.

• If a state standard exists that is higher than these education/experience requirements, the state standard supersedes these qualifications
• One (1) year of hospice care experience required.
• Able to provide proof of valid driver’s license if applicable.
• Able to provide proof of valid auto liability insurance if assignment(s) include driving vehicle.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Able to comply with accepted professional standards of nursing practice and law and regulation.
• Understands principles of pain/symptom management.
• Able to read and interpret technical instructions related to the care of the patient.
• Knowledge and commitment to the hospice philosophy of care.
• Demonstrates excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Ability to work as a member of an interdisciplinary group.
• Able to effectively communicate with clinical and non-clinical employees, patients and family/caregivers.
• Able to perform and prioritize multiple functions or tasks.
• Able to effectively deal with multiple changes.
• Meets applicable federal and state health requirements to provide patient care as appropriate.
• Meets the requirements of federal and/or state criminal and abuse background checks where applicable.
• Able to provide proof of current CPR certification.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort

• Work is normally performed in the patient’s home and/or inpatient setting such as a hospital or nursing home.
• Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens and/or other potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment (e.g. face masks, goggles, latex and/or non-latex gloves).
• Able to constantly travel locally from assignment to assignment.
• Able to constantly stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel and reach freely and assist patients with standing, walking and transferring.
• Sufficient endurance to perform the required physical and mental tasks over long periods of time.
• Able to constantly grasp with thumb in opposition to fingers of palm, i.e. manipulate pen, knobs or objects.
• Visual acuity, dexterity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Able to frequently work on-call hours and evening, night and weekend hours as needed.
• Medium physical activity that may require frequent lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling up to 50 lbs in order to carry out daily job functions and related activities that may be required.