Position Description

Nurse

Primary Function:

The Nurse is responsible for providing skilled nursing care to hospice patients.

Supervision: Director of Inpatient Services

Qualifications:

1. Associate degree or nursing school diploma required.

1. Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
2. Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care preferred.

2. Licensed as a registered nurse in North Carolina.

3. Maintain current unrestricted North Carolina driver’s license and maintain minimum automobile liability insurance for the duration of employment.

4. Active patient experience within the past two years; bedside nursing outside of the hospital setting is desirable.

5. Minimum of two years nursing experience is preferred.

6. Ability to work as a hospice team member and function efficiently in a flexible work environment.

7. Must be physically capable of providing patient care and various institutional settings to include supporting, moving, lifting adult patients, and lifting equipment and supplies.

8. Must be certified to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).

9. Must meet immunization requirements of North Carolina and Davidson County.

Job Duties:

1. Understand and commit to the Hospice philosophy of care, including the importance of treating the patient as a whole being, physically, psychosocially and spiritually.

2. Work collaboratively with the hospice interdisciplinary team to develop an individualized plan of care for each patient/family, as assigned by the Director of Inpatient Services.

3. Evaluate the patient/family needs, symptoms, and total condition in order to report accurately to the physicians and/or Director of Inpatient Services in order that appropriate decisions

may be made regarding the patient/family’s care.

4. Contact the patient’s primary care physician and/or Hospice Medical Director as needed regarding physician’s orders for the care plan; he/she is also responsible for continued communication with physicians and other health care personnel concerning changes in medical treatment and all other aspects of patient care.

5. Initiate nursing procedures appropriate for the patient’s care and safety.

6. Teach and counsel the patient/family about the disease process, medication management, and provision of care for the patient.

7. Provide hands-on nursing care to the patient and emotional support to the family as needed.

8. Maintain accurate records of Hospice patient/family care services per Hospice of Davidson

County policy.

9. Participate in hospice staff meetings, interdisciplinary team conferences, staff development

events, and educational programs.

10. Relate professionally and courteously with patients, families, members of the Hospice of

Davidson County staff and the medical community.

11. Provide on-call nursing services as assigned and commit to one 6 hour shift per month

as shifts are available.

12. Assist with admissions as assigned.

13. Participate in the Quality Assessment/Performance Improvement process and the ACHC

accreditation process.

14. Comply with all Hospice of Davidson County Policies and Procedures including attendance and confidentiality standards.

15. Other such responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Inpatient Services.

16. Abides by the North Carolina Nurse Practice Act.

17. Participates in hospice sponsored in-service training.

18. Participates in QAPI program.

19. Participates on Hospice committees as needed.

20. Performs job duties in accordance with all Hospice policies, procedures, and professional

and community standards.

21. Abides by the Hospice Professional Code of Conduct.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee

to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be

made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use

hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms, to talk or

hear.

The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or

crawl and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision

abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, peripheral and depth perception and the

ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Status and Hours of Work:

This position is classified as non-exempt. Work hours vary according to need and may include nights, and week-ends or 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or as needed to perform duties. This position is eligible for overtime pay.