JOB SUMMARY

The registered nurse 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.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care

• Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing assessments of patient and family to determine hospice needs.   Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process.
• Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by:
• Writing and initiating plan of care
• Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
• Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions.  Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.  Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care.
• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
• Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Acts as Case Manager and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

Communication

• Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given.  Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
• Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate.  Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers.  Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
• Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice Interdisciplinary Group Members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.

Additional Duties

• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes.
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by the employee of this job.  The employee may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

JOB REQUIREMENTS (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Graduate of National League for Nursing accredited school of nursing.
• Minimum of two years of experience, at least one of which is in the area of public health, home care, or hospice nursing is preferred.
• Management experience not required.  Responsible for supervising hospice aides.
• Registered nurse with current licensure to practice professional nursing in the state.
• Demonstrates excellent observation, problem solving, verbal and written communications; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
• Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.  Able to lift, position, and/or transfer patients.  Able to lift supplies and equipment.  Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.  Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Maintains a current CPR certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.