Job Description

Benefits We Offer for PRN & Per-Visit Opportunities:

* 401K Retirement Plan

Position Description

The Registered Nurse provides intermittent skilled nursing services; communicates the patients progress with other disciplines and directs, supervises and instructs non-professional hospice aide staff in the provision of personal care to the patient.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

* Under the Physicians order, admits patients eligible for hospice services
* Assesses and evaluates patient needs/problems, identifies mutually agreed upon goals with patients
* Reports patient status and need for other disciplines to agency intake coordinator, RN Manager and referring physician
* Develops patient care plan that specifically addresses identified patient problems; nursing problems and goals. Updates care plans on an ongoing basis; revises and resolves patient problems and goals as changes occur and/or recertification
* Admits paperwork and patient care plan submitted to RN Manager within 2 days following the admit
* Assures that all admit paperwork is completed in full at time of submission for timely data entry of IDG/POC information
* Provides intermittent Skilled Nursing services including assessment, evaluation, procedures, teaching, and training activities as outlined in the patient IDG Plan of Care
* Provides Skilled Nursing visits according to visit schedule and notifies agency of need to alter schedule in any way
* Reports significant findings to patients Physician and RN Manager as they occur
* Submits completed skilled nursing notes; communication notes and hospice aide supervisory notes per policy
* Submits change orders within 48 hours of occurrence
* Submits recertification paperwork by the due date provided by the RN Manager
* Schedules an IDT meeting with assigned RN Manager to review patients needs, problems, level of care and any changes in Plan of Care for next cert period
* Completes communication note documenting plans for recertification were discussed and agreed upon between the Physician, patient, and RN Manager
* Completes other required documents for recertification: new Medication Profile, updates Care Plan, and updates or completes new Hospice Aide Plan of Care, if applicable
* Performs hospice aide supervisory visit at least q 2 weeks and once per cert period with hospice aide present
* Effectively communicates with all members of the healthcare team
* Acts as the patients advocate and as such is a liaison to assist in communicating the patients needs to the multidisciplinary team
* Supervises the hospice aide every 14 days. Provides direction and instruction as it relates to provision of personal care and related support services
* Completes documentation on hospice aide supervisory notes
* Reports identified performance related problems; patient complaints and/or deviation from the Hospice Aide instruction sheet to the RN Manager
* Acts as a preceptor in the orientation of new nursing staff
* Attends staff meetings and educational in-services per agency requirements
* Continually strives to improve nursing care by broadening knowledge through formal education, attendance at workshops, conferences and participation in professional and related organizations and individual research reading
* Obtains CEUs as dictated by the State Board of Nurses
* Attends at least 50% of the skilled nurse in-services and meetings provided by agency
* Is responsible for obtaining information provided at skilled nurse in-services and meetings and demonstrates appropriate follow-up related to information given at meetings and in-services
* Participates in PI program through submission of data collection as it relates to direct patient care problems and serving on PI teams
* Follows agency policies and procedures
* Participates in discharge planning process
* Documents Discharge Planning beginning with admit and documents at least 2 weeks in advance instructions given related to discharge
* Completes:
* Patient Care Plan
* Discharge Nurses Note and submits them along with other notes turned in per agency policy

REQUIRED Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

* Is currently licensed in the state of practice or in accordance with the Board of Nurse Examiners rules for Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), and
* Current drivers license and automobile in good working condition with proof of auto insurance
* Ability to work in a field setting and exhibited ability to make sound nursing judgment
* Ability to assess patient needs and formulate individualized patient care plans to meet those needs
* Effective communication skills

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

* One year experience as a professional nurse