TRIAGE RN - Hospice (Part-time)

Provides direct palliative care to terminally ill patients and their families while functioning within a medically approved plan of care. Demonstrates proficiency in triaging patient emergencies both in person and on the phone while effectively communicating patient needs and concerns to the correct member of the hospice team.

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Accountability:

Reports to the RN Clinical Coordinators/Director of Nursing

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Schedule: Saturday & Sunday 7am-7 pm

Essential Job Functions:

1. Fosters and maintains an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients, and other professional members of the community
2. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the interdisciplinary team for each patient 
3. Gathers, reports, and analyzes patient care data and implements care accordingly 
4. Manages overall care to assigned patients encompassing coordination of all hospice disciplines during non-business hours and reports issues and significant changes to the RN Case Manager
5. May pronounce death with previously established physician orders 
6. Calls mortuary of choice and completes process related to removal of body from location of death
7. Provides intervention and support as needed related to terminal illness and loss
8. Provides emotional and spiritual support and makes appropriate referrals to other team members
9. Assesses and addresses depression and fear associates with terminal illness
10. Facilitates communication among patient, family, and hospice team
11. Reports any changes immediately to the Physician, RN Case Manager, or appropriate hospice team member for the patient
12. Reports unusual conditions, observations and pertinent information to the Physician or Director of Clinical Operations
13. Capable of giving adequate report on patient’s condition to the Hospice Medical Director, members of the interdisciplinary team, other nurses, and supervisors, as needed
14. Understands/provides basic principles of palliative care/pain management within the Scope of Practice
15. Complies with all documentation policies/procedures
16. Completes appropriate documentation in a legible and timely manner
17. Participates in Performance Improvement activities as requested
18. Provides personal care as assigned by the Interdisciplinary Team, Physician, Director of Clinical Operations, which may consist of, but not limited to:
19. May be asked to assist with patient admissions when adequate Triage coverage has been provided
20. Telephone triage
21. Patient Visits
22. Nursing assessment/reassessment
23. Medication management, administration, and teaching
24. Provides comfort measures
25. Insertion/maintenance/removal of foley catheters
26. Insertion/maintenance/removal of various IV catheters for pain control/comfort
27. Application/adjustment of oxygen, IV, NG, G-Tube and other invasive lines as ordered by the physician
28. Vital signs (B/P, T, P, R)
29. Assist with ambulation/transfers
30. Follows the State of Nevada Nurse Practice Act during all patient care activities
31. Follow policy and Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice for clinical care
32. Other duties as assigned

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Specific to Job Position:

1. Adheres to patient rights, abuse reporting and confidentiality policies
2. Attends scheduled staff meetings and/or in-service training
3. Adheres to departmental dress code requirements related to uniform, personal grooming, and other attire
4. Demonstrates reliability by making every attempt to report to work on time, providing proper notification for absence or tardiness and participating in required meetings
5. Demonstrates ability to problem-solve and make decisions by assessing situations and considering alternatives, seeking guidance and direction as necessary, utilizing proper chain of command
6. Demonstrates effective time management skills by coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency, willingness to adjust or revise work schedules as requested
7. Assumes responsibility for on-going personal development and continuing education
8. Stays current with all mandatory agency and regulatory requirements
9. Completes assigned projects within specified time frames

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Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Must have the strength and endurance required for standing, walking, lifting, bending, and pushing on a consistent basis up to 50 lbs
2. Utilizes appropriate durable medical equipment as needed in a safe manner
3. Uses appropriate body mechanics as needed for personal use and safe patient care
4. Category 1 for potential exposure to blood/body fluids. (Requires the performance of procedures or other tasks in the work routine that involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues, or a potential for spills or splashes of them. Protective measures should be used while engaged in Category 1 tasks with exposure potential.)
5. Utilizes appropriate PPE as needed
6. Follows the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency/disaster
7. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, work- related stresses, and driving hazards. 
8. This individual may be required to drive to meetings with clients, health care professionals or patients’ homes. 
9. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the work environmental and physical demands listed above.

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Qualifications and Experience:

1. Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State Board of Nursing in the State of Nevada 
2. Prefer 1 year experience as a registered nurse in hospice, home health or geriatric care
3. Successful completion of a background check pursuant to NRS 449.188 and NRS 179A.100 along with a pre-employment drug screen and physical, TB testing, previous employment and reference checking, and an MVR (may include verification of education)
4. Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
5. Must be CPR/First Aid certified
6. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions
7. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing, patients, families, and other caregivers
8. Available for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and Holidays
9. A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and current auto insurance required 

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