Registered Nurse | Laredo

Job Summary

Registered nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care and has experience in nursing, with an emphasis on community health education and experience. The professional nurse builds on community resources to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

• Completes initial, comprehensive and ongoing assessments of patient and family to determine hospice needs.
• Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illnesses.
• Utilizes all elements of the nursing process to provide professional nursing care.
• Writes and initiates a plan of care, regularly re‑evaluates patient and caregiver needs, and participates in revising the plan as necessary.
• Uses assessment data to determine nursing diagnoses.
• Develops a care plan that establishes goals based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions.
• Incorporates the patient and family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
• Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
• Counsels the patient and family to meet nursing and related needs.
• Provides health‑care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
• Assists the patient with activities of daily living and facilitates self‑sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Acts as case manager and coordinates care for the assigned caseload.

• Maintains and submits accurate clinical notes regarding patient condition and care given.
• Records pain/symptom management changes and outcomes when appropriate.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in condition; obtains and receives physician orders as required.
• Communicates with community health personnel to coordinate the care plan.
• Teaches patient and caregiver self‑care techniques as appropriate.
• Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes opportunities for health counseling.
• Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
• Maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Supports the patient, family and team members in providing continuity of care.
• Works cooperatively with family, caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family.
• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.

• Participates in on‑call duties as defined by policy and works weekends.
• Ensures arrangements for equipment and other necessary services are available.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge through continuing education and in‑service classes.
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
• Participates in quality assessment and performance improvement teams and activities.

• Graduate of a National League for Nursing accredited school of nursing.
• Minimum of two years of experience, at least one of which is in public health, home care, or hospice nursing (preferred).
• Management experience not required.
• Registered nurse with current licensure to practice professional nursing in the state.
• Demonstrates excellent observation, problem‑solving, verbal and written communication; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
• Capable of prolonged or considerable walking or standing; able to lift, position and/or transfer patients; able to lift supplies and equipment; capable of reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.
• Has visual acuity and hearing required to perform nursing skills.
• Maintains current CPR certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order.
• Self‑directed and able to work with minimal supervision.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring that all conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, transfer, promotion, discipline, determination of compensation and/or benefits, and termination of employment, for all job classifications, are based on qualifications and work record. No employment decision is made, nor do we discriminate, on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex/pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, or disability.