Midland - Hospice - RN

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.

Qualifications:

1. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  One (1) to two (2) years of recent hospicecare experience, preferred.
2. Current licensure in State.
3. Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
4. Management experience not required.  Responsible for supervising hospice aides.
5. Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
6. 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.

Functions:

• Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment 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 and as defined in the state Nurse Practice Act.
• 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
• Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• 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 when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.
• Conducts an on-site visit to the patient's home no less frequently than every 14 days to assess the quality of care and services provided by the hospice aide and to ensure that services ordered by the hospice interdisciplinary group meet the patient's needs.
• Assures that documentation by HHA is complete and appropriate to the services provided.
• Promote Agency philosophy and administrative policies.
• Perform on-call responsibilities and provide on-call service to patients/families as assigned.
• Supervise and provide direction to the home health aide and LVN/LPN.
• Demonstrate commitment, professional growth, and competency.