Registered Nurse | PRN | Frontier Hospice

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 case

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.

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.

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.

• The ability to drive and/or have access to transportation for agency related travel (e.g. community partners, patients, etc.) is an essential function of the job.  Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, maintain automobile insurance coverage and have access to an automobile.

• Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.