RN Case Manager, Hospice in Home, Fulltime 1 FTE

RN Case Manager, Home Care

POSITION OBJECTIVE: 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing preferred.
• Must have current RN license to practice in the state of Indiana.
• Must hold current CPR certification or obtain within the orientation period.
• Infusion skills preferred
• Must be able to provide those services requiring substantial specialized nursing skill.
• Prefer one (1) year of recent hospital or home health care experience.
• Must have a current motor vehicle operator’s license and have access to an automobile with current automobile insurance coverage.
• Must be able to drive independently to all patient/family clients’ homes.
• Must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the job without posing a direct threat to the health and/or safety of him/her, or to others in the workplace.
• Must be comfortable working with hospice patients with the emphasis on palliative care.
• Assists with inservicing the community on the hospice philosophy as needed/requested.
• Ability to recognize needs and emergencies of hospice and palliative care patients. and provide appropriate interventions.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong assessment skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Must be capable of functioning independently in the patient's setting.
• Implements Agency policies in all work-related situations; orientation of patient/family to hospice benefit services, including identifying the role of team members.
• Preparing clinical and progress notes. 
• Makes the initial assessment evaluation visit and identifies patient health problems by assessing environmental, psychosocial, spiritual, physiological and health behavior systems. In regard to Home Health Care, this would include Outcome and Assessment  Information Set (OASIS) assessments at appropriate time points.      
• Ensures proper initiation of the interdisciplinary plan-of-care, coordinating revisions to the plan-of-care and evaluating outcomes.
• Anticipates problems related to impending death of patient beginning at time of admission and pursues problem resolution, including bereavement follow-up for caregiver.
• Follow state and Agency policy and procedures when legally pronouncing a death. Specifics of the death event will be documented in the clinical record; required information is communicated/submitted to appropriate parties.   The patient’s body will be handled with respect and dignity and in accordance with individual patient/family requests.  
• Respect the cultural and religious traditions and beliefs of the patient/family.         
• Recognize and maintain professional boundaries in relationships with the patient/family/caregiver.
• As a member of the interdisciplinary team, participates in patient care conferences to promote holistic care.  
• Documents findings accurately, in a timely manner, and on appropriate forms according to Agency's procedures.
• Delivers nursing care to patients, which includes pain/symptom management, teaching, providing direct care, case management, referral, advocacy and monitoring.
• Supervises clinically the care delegated to LPN’s, Home Health Aides, CNA’s, Companions and/or Homemakers.

• Instructs LPN’s, Home Health Aides, and/or CNA’s on specific patient care procedures within approved policies.
• Maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/families.  This includes confidentiality of personal matters as well as patients', coworkers' and Agency's business.
• Implements the individualized plan of care and re-evaluates the patient’s nursing needs on an ongoing basis.  
• Follows orders from patient’s physician and informs physician and other personnel of changes in the patient’s condition and needs.
• Maintains expected and acceptable productivity.
• Participates in student nurse program as it relates to field visits and hospice philosophy.
• Coordinates care and services with other health care providers.
• Recommends utilization of additional Agency services and other community services, as appropriate.
• Works in a cooperative relationship with other Agency personnel.
• Seeks appropriate clinical supervision.
• Participates in Agency's committees and task forces.
• Assumes responsibility for continued personal growth and development.
• Participates in on-call and Holiday rotation as assigned.        
• Seeks educational opportunities to improve clinical practice and participates in inservice programs.
• Adheres to all Agency's policies.
• Adheres to Stillwater Hospice dress code policy.
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Adheres to Stillwater Hospice privacy practices as described in the notice of Privacy Practices.                          
• Participates in quality improvement activities and/or other agency committees or task forces when requested.          
• Critical Skill Sets and Attitudes:
  • Proficient and timely in all aspects of clinical documentation including computer data entry.
  • Proficient in blood draws, all routine patient treatments, (dressing changes,   catheters, etc.), pain and symptom management, care of the patient and      family including pediatric and HIV patients; Mantoux administration.
  • Proficient in case management, all aspects of IV care including programming of IV pumps, tubing changes, site care and subcutaneous access.
  • Display compassion, be a team player, have an optimistic outlook, be adaptive, accountable and customer driver.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provides personal care.  
• Participates in QA by reviewing patient records to ensure compliance.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL/MENTAL FUNCTIONS:

• Must have visual and hearing ability to comprehend written and verbal communication.  Constant.
• Must be able to engage in clear, concise verbal/nonverbal communication.  Constant.
• Lifting: Transfer patients into positions where they can perform daily care, personal hygiene, and grooming - Occasional to Frequent.
• Carrying: Personal hygiene supplies to and from bathroom to patient - Occasional. Linen for short distances - Occasional.
• Pushing/pulling/reaching: Readjust patient in bed - Occasional.
• Standing: While performing patient care - Frequent to Constant.
• Sitting: While driving to and from patient=s home - Frequent.
• Climbing: - Occasional to Frequent.  Must be able to climb a minimum of three (3) flights of stairs.
• Balancing: Needed for normal ambulation, climbing stairs, and for reaching - Occasional to Frequent.
• Stooping/kneeling/crouching/bending: To perform patient care - Frequent 
• Handling objects, i.e. soap, shampoo, toothbrush, comb, dressing - Occasional.
• Fingering: Pen, visit reports - Occasional to Frequent.
• Opening: Bottles and jars - Frequent.

• Talking: To communicate with patient and family; and to communicate with supervisor and coworkers - Frequent.
• Hearing: To communicate with patient, coworkers, patient=s family, and supervisor - Frequent to Constant.
• Seeing: Constant. The ability to discriminate colors.   
• Must have ability to remain calm in occasional emergency situations.
• Recognizes emergencies and has knowledge of emergency procedures, according to Agency policy.

ESSENTIAL HAZARDOUS PHYSICAL EXPOSURES:

• Must be willing to travel between patients in inclement weather.
• Potential threat of physical violence to self.   (Security personnel available upon request.)
• Potential exposure to dangerous animals, such as dogs, rodents, etc.
• Potential exposure to environmental pollutants.
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases, needle sticks, blood and body fluids, and hazardous waste.
• Potential exposure to variable temperatures in working environment.

CHEMICAL OR HAZARDOUS PHYSICAL EXPOSURES: 

• Potential exposure to substances within the office environment, including copy machine toner, VDT emissions and cleaning.
• Potential exposure to chemical/cleaning substances in the patient's home environment.

ESSENTIAL PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

• Standard precautions will be consistently used for all patients.  Protective clothing and equipment is provided by the employer at no cost to the employee.

Stillwater Hospice has been caring for the seriously ill of Northeast Indiana since 1888, and our goal is to foster the optimal quality of life through medical, spiritual, and emotional support for patients and their loved ones. We provide high-quality, patient-focused, and compassionate care that helps terminally ill patients and their families live as fully as possible. Providing hospice care allows patients and their families to have meaningful moments together.