Hospice Nurse - RN; FTE

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Walla Walla Community Hospice is seeking an experienced Hospice RN dedicated to providing exceptional, compassionate end-of-life care to our patients and their loved ones. This position is a 7 day on/ 7 day off schedule Wednesday through Tuesday. This position would support any of the responsibilities of a hospice nurse as outlined below and is typically scheduled for daytime shift.

The Hospice Nurse is responsible for the total direct nursing care of all hospice patients within established standards of hospice care, inclusive of admission, case management, and float nurse responsibilities. The Hospice Nurse also serves as a liaison between patients and families, as well as community partners and referral sources, and Walla Walla Community Hospice. The Hospice Nurse may fulfill any one of the roles assignments below and may float between assignments based on patient care needs.

The Admission Nurse is responsible for ensuring safe and timely access to Hospice services through the initiation of admission in accordance with regulatory requirements and established processes.

The float RN provides hospice nursing support as needed based on fluctuating volume of patient care demands. This could include assignment to admissions, routine visit support, urgent visits, ongoing case management, or liaising as needed.

The Hospice RN Case Manager (RNCM) is responsible for the overall management of all nursing care for assigned patients. The RNCM serves as a core member of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) responsible for providing holistic care to patients and families consistent with the hospice philosophy of care and in accordance with Medicare CoPs along with applicable federal and state regulations.

Responsible for ensuring patients referred to Walla Walla Community Hospice have a smooth transition to hospice care in the care setting of their choice, educating community partners, physicians, and other health care workers about Hospice. The nurse liaison is responsible for growth of referral base and consistent improvement in community reputation as a leader in Hospice Care.

Responsible for telephonic assessments to evaluate the urgency of patient needs, provides immediate clinical support to patients, families, and care givers regarding hospice services and symptom management. Collaborate with the nurse case manager, clinical manager, medical director, and/or IDT to prioritize urgent visit needs. Offers support in crisis situations; escalating concerns as needed. Performs pronouncement of death visits as needed.

• Provide skilled nursing care consistent with hospice standards of practice.
• Perform comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and environmental assessments.
• Assess and evaluate clinical presentation in accordance with Hospice LCDs and communicate findings with Hospice Physician for determination of initial and ongoing eligibility.
• Manage pain and symptoms utilizing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
• Plans, implements, and evaluates patient care, incorporating patient and others involved in care.
• Maintains competencies in pain management, symptom management, infusion care, wound care, nursing assessment, medications, etc.
• Provides patient and caregiver training to promote independence and dignity at end-of-life and enable caregivers to provide safe and effective care.
• Respond at time of client death to pronounces death per procedure, notifies appropriate agencies, and provides bereavement support to family members during immediate bereavement period.
• Provides meaningful observations and skilled assessments; completes accurate documentation timely.
• Communicates with attending physicians, WWCH staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient and their caregivers.
• Participates as an engaged member of the IDT/G and contributes to care planning to provide optimal end of life support.
• Report safety concerns and adverse events timely.
• Participate in on-call rotation, which may include evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Complete all required trainings and staff meetings.
• Participate in agency and community programs as required to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care.
• Accountability for HIPAA privacy and security standards within the organization
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Knowledgeable in the principles and practices of professional nursing.
• Knowledge of hospice philosophy and end-of-life care principles.
• Strong assessment and critical thinking skills.
• Professional communication skills including strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Emotional resilience and ability to support families during crisis.
• Collaborative interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Ethical judgement and accountability.
• Knowledgeable regarding regulatory…