Hospice RN, PRN

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional care to nursing care to the agency’s home care patients as prescribed by the physician and in compliance with the State Nurse Practice Act and the agency policies and procedures. May also provide professional nursing services in an institutional setting within the policies and procedures of that institution.

Qualifications

• Currently licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Oklahoma.

• At least 2 years hospice experience as an RN preferred.

• Certification in Hospice and Palliative Nursing a huge plus.

• Proficient in verbal, written, and electronic communication.

• Must be flexible to adjust to changing tasks frequently.

• Must have a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, maintain valid auto liability insurance, and be able to drive throughout service area under a variety of weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Must be able to maintain concentration during frequent interruptions.

Responsibilities

• Must be able to maintain concentration during frequent interruptions.

• Delivers service/ visits to assigned patients and preforms direct care in various settings, ensuring all needs and goals are being addressed.

• Perform and execute the RN duties associated with hospice plan of cares.

• Perform admission visits, regular skilled nursing and supervisory visits, hospice evaluations, imminent visits as well as on-call and prn visits as assigned.

• Maintains and completes patient’s medical record in accordance with agency standards.
• Demonstrates strong teamwork characteristic and interpersonal skills and able to work with the interdisciplinary team without role blurring or conflict.

• Participate in case presentation during interdisciplinary team meetings.

• Participate in education programs to learn new treatments, procedures, developmental skills, etc., as assigned.

• Demonstrates understanding of the concept of Death and Dying; Pain and Symptom Management; Grief and loss.

• Perform supervisory visits to patients and re-evaluate patient’s nursing needs.

• May be assigned to perform home health aide supervisory visits.

• Performs monthly supervision of any LPN’s assigned to the designated team.

• Provide and/or participate in and support all levels of hospice care i.e. routine, respite, continuous, in-patient and imminent visits.

• Provide accurate, timely, complete and acceptable documentation.

1. Accurate –reflecting good nursing judgment, and as scheduled.
2. Timely – All electronic documentation to be completed by 10:00 the following day. Weekend notes completed by 10:00 the following Monday.
3. Complete – all blanks, narrative that is legible and understandable, confirmations as necessary. All initial documents completed and signed.
4. Acceptable – meeting acceptable Medicare standards as explained and documented in the Accentra Hospice Policy and Procedure Manual.
5. Paints accurate picture of patient clinical presentation and documents need for ongoing hospice care and or clinical stability per Medicare requirements and initiates discharge meet expectations as defined by supervisor or management.

• Attends the Interdisciplinary meetings every 15 days.

• Attends case conferences and care coordination meetings with various healthcare partners including nursing homes, assisted living centers and hospitals to ensure avoidance of duplication of services and care coordinated to meet patient specific goals.

• As a case manager, be wholly responsible for patient hospice care and support the need to work irregular hours as needed to perform nursing and case management duties.
• Perform job in accordance and compliance with policies, procedures, supervisory expectations and other directives as defined by leadership.

• Provide all documents for up-to-date personnel files in a timely manner as requested by Agency in order to continue being scheduled for visits.

• Respond to emergencies and to standby until able to contact Supervisor / Manager.

• Reports pertinent observations and reactions regarding changes in patient’s condition to the appropriate team person promptly and provides follow‑up to assure resolution of any identified problem.

• Communicate effectively with care coordination team. E.g. facility staff, physicians, pharmacy, case team, supervisors, etc.

• Educate patients and caregivers on disease processes, goals, and rehabilitation as outlined by Medicare and defined by Accentra Hospice’s policies and procedures.

• Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.

• May be required to rotate through as visit-on-call nurse and make visits on weekends and holidays.

• Teach other personnel hospice procedures.

• Attend meetings involving Accentra Hospice when requested to do so.

• Assist in orientation of new personnel, when requested.

• Display ethical principles of acceptance and non-judgment mentality.

• Abide by laws, rules and regulations which govern hospice and work environments e.g. non-discriminatory work environment.

Organizational Relationship

• Reports to the Patient Care Coordinator, Hospice Administrator or other manager as assigned.

Functional Abilities

• Contact with a variety of housing conditions required.

• Must be able to maintain concentration during frequent interruptions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Must be flexible to adjust to changing tasks frequently.

• Light to moderate degrees of stress incurred in daily employment.

• Able to communicate verbally and in writing to the extent required by the position.

• Able to physically perform the duties required by the position.

• Able to travel.

• Light to moderate physical activity required, including possible lifting up to 50lbs and turning of adult clients.

• Good color vision essential to determine subtle changes in patient's skin color and to rapidly recognize medication and color-coded supplies.

• Requires good hearing to assess situations quickly and respond appropriately.

(This description does not reflect all the responsibilities of the position, nor shall this be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the position.)