Registered Nurse - Home Hospice Nurse

Registered Nurse (RN)

Home Care or Nursing Home

Position Summary

Provides and oversees mission-centered nursing care to patients in homes or contracted long term care facilities by planning, coordinating and documenting individualized care from the day of admission to the day of discharge. Utilizing physicians’ orders and professional skills, the RN provides for the personal, physical, emotional and social needs of the patient and caregiver within the interdisciplinary team in accordance with State and Federal Regulations and St. Anthony’s philosophy, standards and policies.

Essential Job Functions

• Accurately performs and documents patient assessments as required by Medicare guidelines and St. Anthony’s policies and procedures.

• Provides hospice-level nursing care following individualized plans of care in conjunction with Medicare Conditions of Participation and hospice regulations and standards.

• Responds to the physical, mental, social and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their caregivers.

• Assists in creating and maintaining an environment that promotes a sense of well being for the patient/caregiver and hospice staff.

• At a minimum, makes weekly routine visits with patients (and caregivers, if available) to assess status, identify new physical/psychosocial needs and update the Plan of Care to reflect any changes.

• Makes a face-to-face prn visit when the patient’s condition or caregiver’s request warrants it rather than handling the condition or request by phone.

• Assesses/reassesses pain/other symptoms, utilizes pain/symptom management techniques and carries out the pain/symptom management plan to keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

• Provides appropriate, timely and accurate examinations, care and treatments including, but not limited to, measuring vital signs; catheter and colostomy care; staging and treatment of wounds, pressure sores and stasis ulcers; respiratory car;, enteral feedings; care of IVs, central venous access devices and PCA-CADD pump; and monitoring of INR levels.

• Accurately administers medications as ordered by a physician based on the patient’s age and clinical presentation, including injectibles and IV solutions.

• Tracks effectiveness of medications and treatments toward patient’s comfort and safety goals, reporting findings to the physician as appropriate.

• Completes procedures and documentation upon the death or discharge of a patient, including post mortem care.

• Accurately completes clinical documentation in a timely and acceptable manner that supports daily tasks and the patient’s individualized Plan of Care.

• Obtains and documents physician orders for medications, supplies, equipment, etc, collaborating with the Attending Physician and/or Medical Director as patients’ needs dictate.

• Thoroughly and clearly instructs the patient/caregiver in patient safety; explains medications, treatments, and procedures; provides information regarding the disease process, including signs of impending death and the dying process.

• Communicates effectively with patients, caregivers, physicians and team members to share and elicit information related to the patient’s care and treatment.

• Participates constructively as a part of the interdisciplinary team during IDT meetings, in-services and other special meetings as assigned by the Coordinator or Director of Home Care Nursing.

• Provides appropriate leadership and direction to LPNs and HCAs to ensure patient care is maximized.

• Checks and responds to emails during each scheduled shift.

• Adheres to St. Anthony’s Hospice policies pertaining to dress code, conduct and confidentiality.

• Complies with St. Anthony’s Essential Team Values.

• If assigned, takes part in the on-call rotation. Additional on-call needs could be required during periods of high census or unexpected absences.

Completes other duties as assigned that may be deemed appropriate.

Professional

Qualifications

• Must hold a current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Kentucky.

• Must have a minimum of two (2) years of clinical nursing experience, preferably in hospice, a medical/surgical setting, a hospital, an oncology unit or a geriatric facility.

• Must be familiar with the use of computers including internet navigation and email use.

• Must demonstrate commitment to the St. Anthony’s mission-centered concept of care.

Must meet all legal and regulatory requirements of both Federal and State governments as well as Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation and JCAHO.

Physical

Qualifications

• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle to drive to and from patient homes or other assigned St. Anthony’s worksites.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position to complete patient documentation.

• Must be able to frequently move throughout the patient’s home to attend to the needs of the patient and caregiver.

• Must be able to communicate verbally, via email or in writing with patients, caregivers, visitors, coworkers and physicians.

• If working in the Nursing Home setting: Must be able to lift 50 pounds and push/pull 50 pounds, 7-10 times per day to perform essential job functions of bathing, transferring and providing general patient care.

• If working in the Home Care setting: Must be able to lift 65 pounds and push/pull 75 pounds, 7-10 times per day to perform essential job functions of bathing, transferring and providing general patient care.

• Must be able to frequently move patients of varying sizes independently or with assistance.

• Must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment when there is a risk for exposure to blood, body fluids, cleaning chemicals and other potentially harmful substances while caring for patients or completing housekeeping duties.

• Must be able to use appropriate medical equipment and devices needed to care for and treat patients.

• Must be able to operate a computer and basic office equipment.

Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm

One weekday off every week.

On-call rotation

One weeknight per week - Monday - Thursday, 5:00pm - 8:00am.

Every fourth weekend - Saturday 8pm-8am, Sunday 8pm-8am

36 scheduled hours per week plus on-call shifts.