RN Case Manager

Walla Walla Community Hospice (WWCH) believes our people are our most valuable resource, and our most important work is achieving excellence in end-of-life care for the communities we serve. We believe that every individual is responsible for creating a culture of excellence in which we become more than the sum of our parts. It is our hope and expectation that each team member contributes to their fullest potential wherever and whenever reasonably necessary to accomplish our goals. As an employer we strive to give our best to our team members and expect the same in return.

Mission

Walla Walla Community Hospice exists to provide compassionate care to individuals in the final stages of life, and to provide support for their loved ones and caregivers.

Summary

The Hospice Nurse is responsible for the total direct nursing care of all hospice patients within established standards of hospice care, inclusive of admission, case management, and float nurse responsibilities. The Hospice Nurse also serves as a liaison between patients and families, as well as community partners and referral sources, and Walla Walla Community Hospice. The Hospice Nurse may fulfill any one of the roles assignments below and may float between assignments based on patient care needs.

Admission RN: Hospice Admission Nurse is responsible for ensuring safe and timely access to Hospice services through the initiation of admission in accordance with regulatory requirements and established processes.

Float RN: The float RN provides hospice nursing support as needed based on fluctuating volume of patient care demands. This could include assignment to admissions, routine visit support, urgent visits, ongoing case management, or liaising as needed.

RN Case Manager: The Hospice RN Case Manager (RNCM) is responsible for the overall management of all nursing care for assigned patients. The RNCM serves as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) responsible for palling and providing holistic care to patients and families.

RN Liaison:

Responsible for ensuring patients referred to Walla Walla Community Hospice have a smooth transition to hospice care in the care setting of their choice, educating community partners, physicians, and other health care workers about Hospice. The nurse liaison is responsible for growth of referral base and consistent improvement in community reputation as a leader in Hospice Care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care in accordance with applicable clinical standards of care within the Hospice model of care

• Assess the comprehensive nursing needs of an assigned caseload of patients as applicable

• Coordinate with patient and family/others involved in care to provide applicable education

• Initiates and or completes patient admission through established admissions processes

• Continuously plans, implements and evaluates patient care, incorporating patient and others involved in care

• Maintains competencies in pain management, symptom management, infusion care, wound care, nursing assessment, medications, etc.

• Provides patient/client teaching to promote independence, support dignity at of end of life, and enable caregivers to provide safe and effective care.

• May be asked to respond to family at time of client death, pronounces death per procedure, notifies appropriate agencies and provides bereavement support to family members during immediate bereavement period

• Skilled in nursing practice, able to cope with loved ones/caregivers’ emotional stress and tolerant of individual lifestyles

• Ability to make meaningful observations, skilled assessments, and write comprehensive, and accurate reports

• Initiate communication with attending physicians, WWCH staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient and loved ones/caregivers.

• Functions as an engaged member of the IDG, such as seeking input from other team members regarding the patient plan of care to obtain additional information and providing meaningful information to fellow IDG team members to provide optimal end of life support.

• Meet regularly with the WWCH clinical team, and specifically nursing team, to review problems or unique issues from caseloads, share professional support, and exchange feedback aimed toward enhancing professional growth

• Inform the leadership of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues

• Report safety and service concerns timely and thoroughly

• May be asked to participate in ‘on-call’ rotation, which may include evenings and weekends, as needed

• Participate in the WWCH orientation and in-service training programs for professional staff

• Participate in agency and community programs as required to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care

• Notify supervisor of any learning opportunities they require to effectively fulfill their job responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Accountabilities and Competencies

• Current knowledge of the principles and practices of professional nursing

• Perform assessments and nursing functions as acquired in the basic nursing preparation program

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information related to the company and its employees

• Maintain familiarity with policies of the agency and rules and regulations of State and Federal bodies which govern hospice

• Must have a valid driver’s license and current car insurance, a good driving record, the use of a reliable vehicle, and the ability to drive year-round to locations in Walla Walla County, Columbia county and northeastern Umatilla county

• Must exhibit effective time management and ability to work autonomously with accountability for work product.

• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills

• Demonstrated ability to work well with a team as well as exhibit supervisory skills

• Working knowledge of DME, supplies, medications, etc. typical in hospice care

• Proficiency in reading, writing, comprehending and speaking English as required for business necessity.

• Accountability for HIPAA privacy and security standards within the organization

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Required: Successful completion of an accredited RN program qualifying graduates to sit for NCLEC.

• Preferred: BSN/MSN or two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in hospice nursing.

Certificates and Licenses:

• Current RN license in OR and WA

• Must have a valid driver’s license, a good driving record

Technology Skills: Computer/tablet proficiency is critical for success. Must possess strong working knowledge of MS O365 suite of applications including Outlook, MS Teams and Word. Experience with hospice specific EHR and EPIC preferred. Must have the ability to work seamlessly between office and field-based work including staying abreast of multiple streams of communication. Must be able to operate basic equipment such as mobile telephones, computers, fax and copy machines.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The Physical Demands and Work Environment described below represent the activities and surroundings of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: use hands to handle or feel; talk; see; and/or hear. The person in this role frequently communicates with others to exchange information in person, over the phone, and via email, or videoconferencing and must be capable of effective communication in these situations. Employee will regularly sit for long periods of time.

Frequently stands and walks around the care settings, interacting with patients, patient family members, facility staff, coworkers, and others. Uses hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate supplies, controls, tools, and objects, and hands and arms to reach. Frequently communicates (speaks and listens) with others to exchange information in person, and over the phone, and must be capable of effective communication in these situations. Frequently travels between care settings, typically by their own private vehicle. Occasionally moves items weighing up to 25 pounds and may assist in transferring patients weighing more than 100 pounds. Frequently required to bend, twist, stoop, kneel, or crouch.

Work Environment

This position is a combination of office and field-based work. Office based work is in a climate-controlled office with low to moderate noise level. Field based work is variable and may include road traffic, construction, inclement weather, as well as other unpredictable circumstances. In addition, care is delivered in a patient’s home setting which could include private home, adult family home, group home, assisted or independent living, nursing home and hospital, as well as other settings a client considers home. In certain circumstances, a staff member may be exposed to communicable diseases and infections, other biological hazards, and various drugs and chemicals. Due to these potential hazardous exposures, you may be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in addition to universal precautions. PPE could include, but is not limited to, gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and goggles.

Travel

This position does regular travel within WWCH three county service area (Walla Walla, Columbia, and Umatilla Counties). The majority of your time will be in the field. This position rarely requires travel outside of WWCH three county service area.

Occasionally 1-33%:

• Kneeling, Bending, Stooping

• Pushing, Pulling

• Crawling, Climbing, Twisting

• Reaching above shoulders

• Carrying/Lifting: 21-50 lbs.

Frequently 34-65%:

• Standing, Walking

• Sitting

• Keyboarding, Grasping, Handling

• Repetitive Motion/Wrist

Continuously 66-100%:

• NA