RN

Department Nursing

Location Hospice House

Reports to Director of Clinical Services

Next Review Date 12/2025

Mission Statement

To provide individualized and compassionate care, education, and support for the dying and those who have

experienced loss.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for providing end-of-life nursing care and hospice services to patients in the hospice facility.

Position Qualifications

• Education and Training:

o Required: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited nursing program.

• Experience:

o Preferred: 2 years of experience working as an RN in a healthcare or hospice setting.

• License or Certification:

o Required: Active and unrestricted RN license in MN.

o Required: Basic Cardiac Life Support for healthcare providers. Must complete within 3 months after start

date if certification is not current.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

• Patient Assessment and Care Planning:

o Perform comprehensive assessments of patients upon admission to the hospice facility, evaluating their

physical, psychosocial, environmental, safety and spiritual needs.

o Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized care plans that address patients'

symptoms, pain management, comfort measures, and psychosocial support needs.

o Regularly reassess patients' conditions, monitor for changes in symptoms or status, and adjust care plans

as needed to ensure optimal comfort and quality of life.

• Skilled Nursing Care:

o Provide skilled nursing interventions and treatments to address patients' clinical needs, including

medication administration, wound care, catheter care, and monitoring of vital signs.

o Administer pain management interventions to alleviate distressing symptoms and promote patients'

comfort and well-being.

o Educate patients and families about disease progression, symptom management techniques,

medication regimens, and advance care planning options.

• Symptom Management and Comfort Care:

o Assess and manage symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, and anxiety using evidence-

based interventions and palliative care techniques.

o Collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to

develop and implement symptom management protocols and treatment plans.

o Provide emotional support and counseling to patients and families, addressing fears, concerns, and

questions related to end-of-life care and decision-making.

• Care Coordination and Communication:

o Coordinate care transitions and continuity of care for patients admitted to the hospice facility, ensuring

seamless transitions between care settings and effective communication with referring providers.

o Communicate regularly with patients, families, and caregivers to provide updates on patients'

conditions, treatment plans, and care goals.

o Collaborate with social workers, chaplains, therapists, and other support services to address patients'

holistic needs and provide comprehensive care.

• Documentation and Regulatory Compliance:

o Maintain accurate and timely documentation of assessments, interventions, and patient/family

interactions in patients' electronic medical record and other required documentation systems, within 24

hours of contact.

o Ensure compliance with Medicare Hospice regulatory standards and MN Standards of Practice.

o Provide care consistent with National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Standards of Practice

for Hospice Programs.

• Professional Development and Training:

o Participate in ongoing professional development activities, including continuing education and training

to enhance skills and knowledge.

o Stay informed about best practices and emerging trends in clinical hospice care.

• Other Duties

o Participates in weekend and holiday rotation.

Physical Demands

Sedentary (Requires lifting 10 lbs., carrying small objects)

Light (Requires lifting 20 lbs., with occasional carrying of up to 20 lbs.)

Medium (Requires lifting 50 lbs., with occasional carrying of up to 25 lbs.)

Heavy (Requires lifting 100 lbs., with occasional carrying of up to 50 lbs.)

Very Heavy (Requires lifting over 100 lbs., with occasional carrying of up to 50 lbs.)

Ability to climb multiple flights of stairs several times throughout the day.

Supervising Responsibilities

Yes - The position has direct supervising responsibilities

No - The position does not have supervising responsibilities

Travel Requirements

The position requires regular use of an insured, reliable vehicle for travel throughout Seasons Hospice service area.

The position requires occasional use of an insured, reliable vehicle for travel.

The position does not require travel.

Agency Expectations

• Adhere to all Seasons Hospice policies and procedures.

• Adhere to the Seasons Hospice Behavior Standards.

• Adhere to all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules and regulations.

• Serve as an ambassador for Seasons Hospice.

• Support the patients and family’s unique spiritual and cultural beliefs.

• Respect for diversity in the workplace.

• Participate in the employee performance review process.

• Demonstrate ongoing responsibility for self-education.

• Maintain personal and patient safety, as appropriate to position in the agency.

• Actively participate in committees within the agency.

• Attend scheduled department meetings and agency meetings on a regular basis.

• Occasional flexibility with work schedule and regularly scheduled work hours.

• Participate in the Quality Assessment Performance Improvement Program (QAPI); as requested.

• Participate in orientation, training, and education of new employees and volunteers; as requested.

• Participate in orientation and supervision for students seeking experience in hospice care; as requested.

• Assume responsibility for the promotion of the hospice concept in the community and with other agencies and

professionals.

• Participate in orientation of new employees, as requested.

• Perform other duties as requested and/or assigned.

This job description is only a summary and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities,

duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to

assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This job description is subject to change at any time

with or without notice.