Registered Nurse PRN

JOB SUMMARY: The Registered Nurse (RN) 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.

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Must have at least one (1) year of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting

Must have at least one (1) year of recent experience in home care environment; hospice experience preferred

Must have current licensure in the state

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Must demonstrate excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills

Must possess excellent problem-solving skills and basic math skills

Must demonstrate nursing skills per competency checklist

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to read and follow instructions, as required

Must be able to travel, often without notice

Must be flexible in work hours

Must demonstrate a willingness to maintain a comprehensive working knowledge regarding information systems and applicable software programs

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Complete an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs

Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es)

Provide professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process

Assess and evaluate patients status by:

o Writing and initiating plan of care

o Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs

o Participating in revising the plan of care, as necessary

Initiate the plan of care and make necessary revisions as patient status and needs change

Use health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis

Develop a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporate palliative nursing actions

Include the patient and the family in the planning process

Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures

Administer medications and treatments, as prescribed by the physician, in the physicians plan of care

Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs

Provide health care instructions to the patient, as appropriate, per assessment and plan

Assist the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitate the patients efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care

Complete, maintain and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patients condition and care given

Record pain/symptom management and changes/outcomes as appropriate

Communicate with the physician regarding the patients needs and report changes in the patients condition; obtain/receive physicians orders, as required

Communicate with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan

Teach the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques, as appropriate

Provide medication, diet and other instructions, as ordered by the physician, and recognize and utilize opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers

Work in concert with the interdisciplinary group

Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient

Assist the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care

Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver

May be required to attend interdisciplinary group meetings

Participate in on-call duties, as defined by the on-call policy

Ensure that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available

Supervise ancillary personnel and delegate responsibilities when required

Assume responsibility for personal growth and development, maintain and upgrade professional knowledge and practice skills, through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes

Fulfill the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments

Actively participate in quality assessment performance improvement teams

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Must comply with company policies, procedures and processes, in addition to Hospice rules and regulations

Must be dependable and flexible in work schedule

Must comply with harassment and discrimination policies

Must foster good working relationships

Must be able to read, write and speak in English

Must possess and maintain current CPR certification

Must be a licensed driver with licensed automobile that is insured, in accordance with organization/state requirements and is in good working order

Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check prior to hire and annually thereafter

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Must be able to see color changes on a patient's skin; can listen to heart and lung sounds through a stethoscope; and feel skin temperature, as well as palpating pulses

Must demonstrate vital sensory abilities including near vision, far vision, perceptual speed, visual color discrimination, depth perception and hearing sensitivity

Must have finger dexterity, arm-hand steadiness, and manual dexterity

Must be able to manipulate equipment in a safe and effective way and use tools that require motor functioning, such as blood pressure monitors and hemostats

Must be able to communicate with patients, families and other health care workers

Speech clarity, speech recognition and written expression are vital abilities for performing the job

Must be able to lift heavy items on a frequent basis

Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. with or without assistance and must be able to spend a prolonged amount of time standing, walking, bending and stretching

Must possess the ability to deal with stressful situations as well as grieving families

Must be able to be compassionate without becoming personally involved with the patients and their families

Must be willing to participate in a drug/alcohol screen prior to hire, if involved in a work-related automobile accident and if reasonable suspicion is reported