Registered Nurse

Description

Are you looking for a position that gives you purpose and helps patients and families get care and support when they need it most? If you have a passion for serving the community and being able to make a positive impact in people’s lives, then consider joining our team as a Registered Nurse!  At Talbot Hospice, providing hope and compassionate support to those facing life-limiting, serious or end-of-life illnesses is our mission. By serving as a Registered Nurse on our care team, you would prioritize the needs of the patients and families so they have the best possible experience with our services.  If you are a Registered Nurse looking for a purpose-driven position offering competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a team who truly care for each other, then please take the next step by applying today.  We are currently hiring for various roles including full-time, part-time, and per diem positions.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities of the Registered Nurse:

Patient Care:

1. The Registered Nurse is responsible for completing initial comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessments of patients and families to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
2. The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process.
3. The Registered Nurse assesses and evaluates each patient’s status by: writing and initiating the plan of care, regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs, and participating in revising the plan of care as necessary.
4. The Registered Nurse initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
5. The Registered Nurse uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
6. The Registered Nurse develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. The Registered Nurse includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
7. The Registered Nurse initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.  The Registered Nurse administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care.
8. The Registered Nurse counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
9. The Registered Nurse provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and the care plan.
10. The Registered Nurse assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care.
11. The Registered Nurse acts as case manager when assigned by the Hospice Clinical Manager and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for the assigned caseload.

Communication:

1. The Registered Nurse completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding each patient’s condition and care given.  The Registered Nurse records pain/symptom management and changes/outcomes as appropriate.
2. The Registered Nurse communicates with the physician regarding each patient’s needs, reports changes in each patient’s condition, and obtains/receives the physician's orders as required.
3. The Registered Nurse communicates with community health related partners to coordinate the care plan.
4. The Registered Nurse teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate.  The Registered Nurse provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. The Registered Nurse works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
5. The Registered Nurse provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
6. The Registered Nurse assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
7. The Registered Nurse works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
8. The Registered Nurse attends and participates in interdisciplinary group meetings.

Additional Duties:

1. The Registered Nurse participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy and the needs of the organization.
2. The Registered Nurse ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
3. The Registered Nurse supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
4. The Registered Nurse 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.
5. The Registered Nurse actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

Requirements

1. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. One to two years of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting required, and one to two years of recent experience in home care preferred.
2. Current Registered Nurse license with eligibility to perform nursing services in the State of Maryland and current CPR certification.
3. Bachelor’s degree, with one (1) year of hospice care experience preferred.
4. Management experience not required. The Registered Nurse is responsible for supervising hospice aides.
5. Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills, and nursing skills per competency checklist.
6. Prolonged or considerable walking or standing is required. 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.
7. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.