Home Health Registered Nurse Mentor

Home Health Registered Nurse Mentor

The home health registered nurse mentor uses the nursing process to provide patient care in the home setting and to provide field clinical training to new nursing hires to home health. Provides individualized patient care for patients in all developmental stages throughout the lifespan including adult and geriatric patients, according to established policies, procedures, guidelines and nursing standards of care. Provides additional precepting oversight to new hires.

This position is responsible for the care and case management of patients in all stages of life in their homes based on the nurse's experience and competency evaluation.

Primary job duties:

• Assess, interpret, plan, implement and evaluate patients according to the patient's age and diagnosis.
• Effectively and efficiently manage the care of a caseload of patients and coordinate care with a multidisciplinary team.
• Appropriately communicate information in accordance with agency policies and procedures and discipline specific guidelines.
• Provide practical clinical experience and guidance to field clinicians to include orientation of new clinicians.
• Contribute to program effectiveness.
• Organize and perform work effectively and efficiently.
• Maintain and adjust schedule to enhance agency performance.
• Demonstrate a daily commitment to the values of the agency.
• Demonstrate positive interpersonal relations in dealing with all members of the agency.
• Maintain and promote customer satisfaction.
• Effectively demonstrate the mission, vision, and values of the agency on a daily basis.

Job specifications:

• Education:
  
  Graduate of an accredited or approved school of nursing, either an AD, Diploma, or BSN program.
• Licensure/
  
  Certifications:
  
  Current license to practice professional nursing in the State in which providing care (NC/SC). CPR certification required.
• Experience:
  
  One year RN experience and a total of 5 or more years clinical experience in home health or 2 years as a home health preceptor is required. Supplemental experience may include experience as LPN, CNA, military medic, EMT or related experience. Less than 1 year RN experience requires 1 year of clinical experience as LPN (Internal use only).
• Essential technical/motor skills:
  Hand/eye coordination in order to give injections, use computer, etc. Must be able to communicate and be literate in the English language. Able to manipulate patient care equipment, to properly transfer and guard patients.
• Interpersonal skills:
  Ability to develop positive interaction with patients, patients' families, physicians and staff in order to effectively care for the patients.
• Essential physical requirements:
  Ability to transfer and/or maneuver objects weighing at least 50 pounds in the assessment and implementation of patient care. Requires frequent pushing, moving, lifting of patients. Positioning of patients, giving patients baths and ambulating patients expending much physical effort. Occasionally requires reaching overhead, stair climbing and fine motor manipulation.
• Essential mental abilities:
  Must be able to assess a patient's condition, formulate a plan of care, select appropriate interventions, evaluate patient's response to care/treatment, and to explain/teach patients about their condition/recovery. Requires higher level of mental faculties accompanied by short-and long-term memory. Able to prioritize duties, learn new skills and techniques in patient care. Able to learn and use supportive services.
• Essential sensory requirements:
  Ability to visually assess patients and to utilize sight to implement and evaluate plan of care (changing dressings, starting IVs, regulating IV's, maintain equipment as to readouts, etc.). Utilize hearing to auscultate lung sounds, bowel sounds, hear alarms, and effectively communicate with patients, families, physician, and staff.
• Exposure to hazards:
  Noise, exposure to blood borne pathogens and body fluids, infectious diseases, and needle puncture wounds. May be exposed to dangerous animals and traffic hazards while home visiting. May encounter patients and other situations which present a potential threat to personal safety. May encounter temperature changes and weather extremes.
• Hours of work:
  Variable Monday - Friday, weekends and holidays as needed. Flexible schedule to accommodate staffing needs.
• Population served:
  Adults and geriatrics.
• Must have a valid driver's license and an operational vehicle.