Registered Nurse - Med Surg

Registered Nurse

The Registered Nurse, RN, is a member of the interdisciplinary team who work together to meet the physical, medical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of hospice patients and families facing terminal illness and bereavement.

• Case Management and Supervision for Registered Nurse, RN
• Registered Nurse, RN follows VITAS policies and standards and practices within the scope of the RN license and has knowledge of hospice eligibility requirements
• Registered Nurse, RN reports any request to practice outside of scope of license to the manager/supervisor
• Registered Nurse, RN performs supervision of nursing tasks delegated to Hospice Aides, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses and Volunteers per the plan of care
• Registered Nurse, RN completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments including physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement in order to provide palliation of end-of-life symptoms
• Registered Nurse, RN appropriately identifies/utilizes resources, referrals such as PT, OT, Home Health, Dietary, Pharmacy, Supplies, Home Medical Equipment, and other visits/consults
• Registered Nurse, RN completes documentation at the time of the event and at the location of care unless otherwise directed
• Registered Nurse, RN provides education and training to patients, families, caregivers and referral sources in the care of the patient, including pain management
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in patient care meetings as assigned
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in weekly team meetings
• Registered Nurse, RN provides effective communication/shift reports through written, verbal, reporting and body language
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in bereavement support
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in the on-call rotation and/or provides shifts during non-business hours such as evenings, weekends and holidays based upon program-identified needs
• Registered Nurse, RN provides visits/shifts in program coverage area
• Registered Nurse, RN works with IDG to develop, coordinate, and follow the patients individualized plan of care
• Registered Nurse, RN obtains physician orders when necessary
• Registered Nurse, RN provides those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill
• Registered Nurse, RN evaluates the outcome of services
• Registered Nurse, RN appropriately delegates nursing tasks to Hospice Aides/Homemakers, Volunteers, and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses
• Registered Nurse, RN provides nursing care including nursing tasks that may be delegated to other roles such as LPNs, HAs and Volunteers
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in and monitors patient and family care compliance activities
• Registered Nurse, RN professionally manages/coordinates the hospice plan of care
• Registered Nurse, RN provides and follows infection control practices
• Registered Nurse, RN delivers care in accordance with the patients plan of care
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program and related activities as assigned
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in Performance Improvement Project(s) (PIP)
• Registered Nurse, RN gathers clinical data which is used for quality measures
• Registered Nurse, RN develops and achieves professional growth goals and objectives personally and per Team Manager reviews
• Registered Nurse, RN attends orientation and regularly scheduled in-services/educational conferences as assigned
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in orientation of Hospice Aides, Volunteers and other IDG members as assigned
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in training activities internally within VITAS and externally as assigned
• Registered Nurse, RN provides customer service
• Registered Nurse, RN maintains focus on the patient and family experience of careg
• Registered Nurse, RN serves as a patient and family advocate
• Registered Nurse, RN reports patient/family/customer complaints to Team Manager
• Registered Nurse, RN participates in patient/family/customer conflict resolution as applicable
• Registered Nurse, RN represents the nursing profession, the VITAS site/location and VITAS overall in a positive manner

• Registered Nurse, RN has reliable transportation with adequate insurance coverage for driver and passengers
• Registered Nurse, RN has telephone available (cellular or land line)

Specific vision abilities required for the Registered Nurse, RN include:
Close vision, Distance vision, Ability to adjust focus

The Registered Nurse, RN will be required to sit and stoop, kneel, and crouch.

• Currently licensed to practice nursing in the state where the VITAS program is located
• A minimum of two years of nursing experience in hospice, home health, or community health in the last five years
• Equivalent experience or licensure may be considered

Reports directly to the Team Manager.