On Call Registered Nurse Home Care

Description

To provide quality, compassionate care to patients and families by  providing holistic care to alleviate end-of-life symptoms, provide  education on disease trajectory, and aggressive support in the home,  patient care units, and community nursing facilities. 

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

· Be available and respond back to communication within 15 minutes 

· Assess each patient and family situation for severity and respond appropriately 

· Communicate with team members and patient care unit staff on a regular basis 

·  Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual, and  pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in  coordination with  interdisciplinary team 

· Assist in assessing patient appropriateness for services  

·  If patient is not appropriate, recommend other services available, with  referrals to other community agencies,  as appropriate 

· Educate patients and family about services 

·  Coordinate the development of the plan of care with goals defined by  the patient/family and the hospice team  updating as changes occur 

· Coordinate medication administration, education and assure accuracy 

· Communicate patient/family information to the interdisciplinary team 

· Update the plan of care as patient condition changes 

· Provide nursing services according to the plan of care  

· Evaluate the need for other services and make a referral as needed in coordination with the social workers 

· Teach the primary caregiver/family by role model, repetition, and reinforcement 

· Provide ongoing supervision along with assessment of continuing needs for patient/family teaching 

· Instruct caregiver in hospice emergency responses and changes to anticipate 

· Make visits as indicated and as needed 

·  Provide the patient/family with information concerning the disease  process, the regimen of treatment process,  and alternative methods of  care 

· Respond to questions honestly and realistically 

· Help the patient/family make informed choices 

· Promote independence and responsibility throughout the course of the disease 

· Provide emotional support 

· Actively listen to patient and family concerns 

· Support individual coping mechanisms 

· Provide services at the time of death 

· Assist with bereavement follow-up by attending receiving or funeral services as appropriate 

·  Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions on a regular basis  and whenever changes occur in the  patient/family situation 

· Communicate with physicians as needed and as required by regulations 

· Maintain current knowledge and competency in providing care to terminally ill patients and their families 

· Assist with nursing care on patient care unit as directed by supervisor 

· Other duties as assigned 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:  

· Ability to work a flexible schedule 

·  Willingness to work with patients/families regardless of race, color,  creed, age or sexual orientation.  Must respect their beliefs and  philosophy with an attitude of openness. 

· Ability to work effectively with others in a supervisory role 

· Strong communication skills 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

Education:  

§ Current NC license as a registered nurse 

§ Active patient contact or completion of a nursing refresher course within the past three years 

Experience:  

§ Minimum of two to three years nursing experience required  

Licensures & Certifications: (if applicable):  

§ CPR certification 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  

§ Visual acuity to read written documentation and computer tasks 

§ Speech and hearing skills necessary for telephone interaction and face to face contact 

§ Ability to sit extended periods of time and perform administrative tasks 

§ Ability to stand, bend and lift an average of 30 pounds 

§ Manual dexterity with the ability to manipulate office equipment and keyboard for extended periods of time 

§ Ability to walk, squat, kneel, climb, and balance 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:  

§ Must have an automobile with required insurance coverage and state driver’s license