Registered Nurse Hospice

Summary

Assumes full nursing responsibility for the delivery of the Plan of Care for each hospice patient. Continuously evaluates personal and professional performance and makes necessary changes to increase productivity and quality of care delivered. Adheres to and supports the policies/procedures/goals/objectives of hospice to assure quality patient care. Strives for independence and sound critical decision-making regarding the delivery of patient care in a cost-effective manner without compromising quality. Develops the patient's Plan of care in collaboration with other professionals and implements treatment strategies based on scientific nursing theory that promotes physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Maintains patient confidentiality at all times. Familiar with the concepts and needs of patients / families who are facing death and dying. Effective communication skills, both verbally and written.

Responsibilities

• Makes the initial nursing evaluation in determining eligibility for hospice services during visit within forty-eight

(48) hours of referral.

• Identifies the patient's/family's physical, psychosocial, and environmental needs and re-assesses as needed, no less than every fifteen (15) days.

• Initiates and coordinates the plan of care.

• Documents problems, appropriate goals, interventions, and patient/family response to hospice care.

• Collaborates with the patient/family, attending physician and other members of the IDG in providing patient

and family care daily.

• Instructs and supervises the patient/family in self-care techniques when appropriate.

• Maintains accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding the patient's condition.

• Reports patient condition and any identified needs/issues to supervisor daily.

• Supervises and evaluates the home health aides/homemaker's ability to perform assigned duties every 14 days.

• Performs supervisory aide visits to the patient's residence every 14 days to assess whether goals are being met.

• Performs supervisory visits with the aide present per state regulations.

• Completes all required hospice assigned modules on-line on a monthly basis.

• Participates in daily nursing report on patients to supervisor and provides all necessary documentation.

• Performs 60 or 90 day record review for recertifications as appropriate.

• Follows processes and regulations for admissions and recertification of hospice patients and reviews findings with supervisor.

• Participates in Interdisciplinary Group Meeting (IDG) regarding patient care every 14 days.

• Participates in the QAPI plan and process on a daily basis identifying any problems to Administrator.

• Compliance with procedures and processes of ordering/obtaining medications ordered by the physician and included in the patients plan of care.

• Assures compliance when possible of medication regime within the specified formulary.

• Maintains up-to-date personnel file.

• Performs LPN Supervisory visits as assigned by supervisor and in accordance with state regulations.

• May fill-in as alternate if Executive Director/Director of Clinical Operations/Patient Care Manager is unavailable.

• Participates in on-call rotation.

Education and Experience

Experience Requirements

• One year of clinical experience.

License Requirements

• Current RN licensure in the state of practice and one year of clinical experience.

• Current CPR Certification.

• Current driver's license, valid vehicle insurance, and access to a dependable vehicle, or public transportation.

Additional State Specific Requirements

• LA: a minimum two years full time experience working as an RN. However, two years of full time clinical experience in hospice care as a licensed practical nurse may be substituted for the required two years of experience as a registered nurse.
• MS: At least one year full-time experience as an RN. However, three (3) years full-time clinical experience in a healthcare setting as an LPN may be substituted for the one year full time experience as an RN.
• VA: Experience with terminally ill required.
• AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA, WV: No additional state specific requirements.