Admissions RN - Hospice & Palliative Care

Position Summary

The Hospice and   Palliative Care RN plans and delivers care to patients utilizing the nursing   process of assessment, planning, interventions, implementation, and   evaluation; and effectively interacts with patients, families, and other   interdisciplinary team members while maintaining standards of professional   nursing and clinical competency.

Admissions/visits/assignments   made are directed and guided by the designated team member coordinating the shift.  Hospice and Palliative Care RNs will perform consultation and admission visits to assess patient’s needs, complete the admission assessment, contractual agreements, and all necessary   documentation. In addition, they will conduct routine and emergency visits to Hospice and Palliative Care   patients. Hospice and Palliative Care   RNs will travel to the patient’s place of residence to conduct the nursing visit. 

Hours for this position are 10:30am to 7pm when scheduled Monday to Friday.  Weekend and holiday hours when working in these rotations are 8am to 4:30pm.

Physical Demands

Must   have visual and hearing acuity. 

Must be   able to communicate verbally.

May be   exposed to pets, smoke, minor hazards, blood borne pathogens and communicable   diseases. 

Physically   active walking, standing, bending, lifting, and climbing stairs.

Provides   direct patient care and must be able to perform fully assisted transfers,   with or without transfer devices.

Work   Environment

Provides   direct patient care in patient homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other   residential type settings.

Exposure to travel in inclement   weather is required.

• Responsible for completion of all elements of the admission process and patient care until the RN Case Manager has been   assigned.
• Responsible for assessing the patient’s medical status,  planning, teaching, and implementing immediate medical interventions on the day of admission.
• Initiates the Plan of Care.
• Provides patient and family education.
• Completes Medication Reconciliation, coordinates medications and DME needs.
• Collaboration with attending physician, Hospice Medical Director, NP, Director of Clinical Operations, Social Worker and other involved personnel regarding the patient’s admission and completes any required follow up.
• Performs timely administrative functions and documents all patient information in a timely and accurate manner. 
• Communicate information, issues, and concerns in patient care meetings to assure smooth transition and continuity of care with other assigned staff, including a detailed report to the assigned Case Manager and assigned Social Worker.
• Provides consultation and emotional/physical support to patients/families regarding Hospice services and the disease processes.
• Serves as the backup in office Admissions Specialist as requested.
• Assesses home care needs, being aware of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects and gathers data on social, economic, and cultural factors which may influence health, well-being and quality of life.
• Participates in the agency’s holiday and weekend on-call rotation as prescribed by the needs of   the agency to provide nursing service to clients when required outside of office hours.
• Follows Hospice Alliance policies, standards of practice and operational guidelines.
• Participate in hospice and community health programs as requested to promote the growth and understanding of the hospice concept. This includes but is not limited to   participation in the Hospice Alliance observation program that provides other health care professionals with the opportunity to observe and learn about   hospice care, college partnerships, and other Hospice Alliance sponsored   education events.
• Establish a CNA plan   of care as well as indirectly and directly supervise the plan of care per regulations.
• Participation in   Hospice Alliance town hall meetings, clinical team meetings, trainings, memorials,   and other events.
• Completes skilled   nurse visits as assigned.
• Maintain the dignity   of the dying patient and support the patients and family’s unique spiritual   and cultural beliefs.
• Support,   instruct/train and educate the patient, family and caregivers.
• Performs other duties   as assigned consistent with skills and training and the mission and goals of   Hospice Alliance. 
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. BSN preferred. 
• Valid license as a Registered Nurse in the State of   Wisconsin.
• Certification as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care   Nurse (CHPN) desired.
• Current Basic Life Support Certification.
•  Valid Driver’s License and car insurance.