Registered Nurse Hospice & Palliative Care; Outpatient

Position: Registered Nurse - FT Days -Hospice & Palliative Care (Outpatient)
DHR Health - US:

TX:

Edinburg - Days

Summary:

Responsible for providing nursing services to terminally ill patients in their home setting and supportive services to family members in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local health and safety codes including LSC®, laws and regulations, and all applicable policies and procedures of hospice.

POSITION EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
• Current license as an RN in the State of Texas.
• Current BLS required.
• Valid and current Driver's License required
• Valid and current proof of Auto Insurance required.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws for delivery of hospice services preferred
• Demonstrate ability to relate effectively with physicians, health care professionals, the community, patients/families, and members of the hospice interdisciplinary team.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate knowledge of medication administration, interactions and side-effects.

• Demonstrate knowledge and competence in pain and symptom control concepts and ensure interventions are carried out on a timely basis.

• Ensure the case management approach for referral to other services as needed.

• Prepare and submit clinical and progress notes that demonstrate progress toward established goals according to policy and procedure guidelines.

• Communicate information using current processes/available technology on a timely basis.

• Supervise LVN, CNA and paraprofessionals providing services to the patient according to regulatory guidelines; participate in evaluation and corrective action when necessary.

• Provide specialized hospice training to other staff, family members and informal caregivers to ensure adequate patient care.

• Ensure on-going evaluation of the patient/family response to care.

• Assess the ability of the caregiver to meet the patient's immediate needs upon admission and throughout care provision.

• Evaluate own needs for support and identify systems to meet the needs.

• Assume responsibility for reordering patient medications/maintaining inventory of supplies.

• Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of cost containment by economical use of supplies, medications and other resources.

• Ensure patient privacy when providing care and treatment.

• Participate in clinical call as scheduled.

• Ensure compliance with Death Pronouncements as per agency protocol.

• Complete audits of discharged patient charts within 30 days of discharge.

• Participate in the QA/PI process.

• Monitor self, staff and patient safety in care setting.

• Participate in departmental and other meetings as requested.

• Participate in orientation of new staff, volunteers, and training of nursing students as requested.

• Participate in all required in-services.

• Maintain current level of skills and evidence of competency.

• Adhere to all Confidentiality policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality of administrative information.

• Develop and update the POC as necessary

• Act as physician agent when calling in prescriptions for patients by following agency protocols.

• Apply specific criteria for admission and recertification of hospice patients.

• Participate in clinical call as scheduled.

• Assess risks for grief, special cultural or speech needs.

• Keep the team informed of the patient's condition

• Perform other reasonable duties as assigned.

• Initial and ongoing assessment of the impact of the terminal diagnosis on the patient's physical, functional, psychosocial and environmental needs and activities of daily living.

• Risk for pathological grief

• Attend IDT meetings as required.

• Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns

• Managing discomfort and providing symptom relief

• Specialized nurse skills related to end of life care

• Consulting with and educating the patient/family regarding: disease process, self-care techniques, end of life care

• Initiating appropriate preventative and rehabilitative nursing procedures

• Determining scope and frequency of services needed based on the acuity of patient/family needs in conjunction with IDT.

• Preparing clinical and progress notes that demonstrate progress toward goal(s)

• Coordinating all patient/family services and prioritization of…