As a Weekend On-Call Visit Nurse at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, you will be responsible for providing nursing care to terminally ill hospice patients for a mission-driven, local non-profit. You will also provide assistance and understanding to families in home care situations. Working as a member of the hospice team, you will play a vital role in providing compassionate end-of-life care. This is a salaried position working every Saturday and Sunday from 8am-8pm, with an option of adding every Friday from 8am-8pm if full-time hours are desired.

• Knowledge and application of policies and protocols of SSRCH.
• Practices infection control techniques.
• Within the scope of practice, prioritizes daily work, makes adjustments taking into account the needs of the patients, physicians and others in the organization.
• Organizes and maintains safe patient care and work areas.
• Documents patient care on a timely basis according to policy.
• Responds to emergency situations.

PATIENT CARE

• Develops and supervises the planning, coordination, and delivery of patient/family care.
• Provides for direct and indirect nursing care to patient/family care.
• Implements physician orders and maintains communication with primary care physician.
• Teaches family members signs and symptoms of dying and grieving process.
• Maintains communication with Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members through participation in bi-weekly IDT meetings.
• Acts as liaison to community resources to meet patient/family needs. Refers when appropriate.
• Uses tools of observation, interviewing, data history, and physical observation and assessment for initial assessment.
• Interprets changes in behavior, psychological and physiological status of patient for initial and ongoing assessment of needs.
• Develops nursing diagnosis and care plans individualized for each specific patient and modifies care plan based on ongoing assessment of patient condition.
• Gives or directs total care for all patients including personal hygiene, comfort measures, nourishment, and provides physical and psychological support to the patient and family.
• Documents medication given, care given, patient condition, assessment, and patient diagnosis within the patient chart.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Evaluates patient outcomes related to self-medication and self-treatment, and modifies care plan accordingly.
• Contacts patient or family to set up schedule for home visits.
• Teaches family members’ patient care skills, meds, treatments, use of equipment and informs them of signs and symptoms of dying and grieving process.

• Supervises, supports, gives guidance and direction to volunteers and ancillary staff according to patient/family needs and State regulations.
• Ability to mentor students and provide input for evaluations.

• CHPN certification within 3 years of hire is strongly encouraged.
• Participates in SSRCH provided education and employee meetings.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Affirms the knowledge, philosophy and principles of hospice care.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Directs and applies problem-solving techniques in resolving issues.
• Required to work reasonable amounts of overtime and flexible hours.
• Instills confidence in the patient by maintaining a neat and attractive appearance and performing duties in a competent and caring manner.
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries.

MISCELLANEOUS

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Physical Requirements: Frequent ambulation; constant bending, lifting, twisting, pushing and pulling; reposition patients; able to sit for extended periods of time; manual dexterity to operate computer and other office equipment.
  • Home Care - Locates and drives to and from patients’ homes and to meetings at other locations as necessary.
• Mental Requirements: Read, speak, write and understand English; cognitive processes to interpret patient condition and apply appropriate nursing procedures; ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and work with fractions; must function independently without supervision.
• Working/Environmental Conditions: Fast-paced changing environment, with multiple directives from several disciplines.
  • Home Care - Requires work in patient homes with no control over environmental conditions.
• Machines, Equipment, Tools Used: IV equipment; glucometer; PCA; computerized equipment; blood pressure equipment; Foley catheter; bed boards; bed cradle; enteral feeding equipment; infusion pump; automobile; pager; telephone; oximeter; phototherapy equipment; computer.
• Exposures: Reasonably anticipated exposure to blood, other body fluids or other potentially infectious materials. Possible exposure to communicable diseases or infections. Reasonably anticipated exposure to hazardous equipment, assorted chemicals, gases/vapors and other pollutants.
• Personal Protective Equipment Required: Assorted gloves; assorted masks, utility gloves; protective eyewear; impervious gowns; impervious aprons; needleless systems as appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Certificate/Degree/License Requirements: RN license to practice nursing in Wisconsin upon hire; valid Wisconsin driver’s license upon hire; re-certification as required. Must carry car insurance on vehicle used to perform job and an acceptable driving record. Certified in CPR BLS according to the American Heart Association and/or the Red Cross.
  • Home Care: Locate and drive to and from patients’ homes and to meetings at other locations as necessary.
• Experience Requirements: Minimum of one year medical/surgical, ICU, public health, home health nursing or hospice experience preferred.
• Education Requirement: Prefer 4-year bachelor degree in nursing or 3-year diploma. Will consider 2-year associate degree with appropriate experience.
• Communicative Skills: Able to communicate directions to RNs, LPNs, CNAs, Team Assistants and auxiliary personnel; communicates and explains new policies and procedures to employees and new hires; able to describe patient condition to physician, patients and family members and offer comfort; able to recognize and respond to non-verbal cues and communication.