Hospice Registered Nurse

REGISTERED NURSE - HOSPICE JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB SUMMARY

• The registered nurse plans,
• organizes
• and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on
• community health education/experience.  The professional nurse
• builds from
• the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of
• individual
• and families within their homes and communities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Care

• Completes

an initial ,

comprehensive

and ongoing

assessments

of

patient

and family to

determine

hospice needs.  Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and

previous

illness(es) .

• Provides professional nursing care by

utilizing

all elements of

nursing

process.

• Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by:

a. Writing and

initiating

plan of care

b. Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs

c.

Participating

in revising the plan of care as necessary

4.

Uses

• health assessment data to
• determine
• nursing diagnosis.

• Develops a care plan that

establishes

goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing

actions.  Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.

• Initiates

appropriate preventive

and rehabilitative nursing procedures.  Administers medications and

treatments

as prescribed by

the physician in the physician’s plan of care.

• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as

appropriate per

assessment and plan.

9.

Assists

• the patient with the activities of daily living and
• facilitates
• the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency
• and optional comfort care.

• Acts as Case Manager and

assumes

responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

Communication

• Completes,

maintains

and submits

accurate

and relevant clinical notes

regarding

patient’s condition and care

given. Records

pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as

appropriate .

• Communicates with the physician

regarding

the patient’s needs and reports changes in

the patient’s condition;

obtains/receives physicians’ orders as

required .

• Communicates with community health related

persons

to coordinate the care plan.

4.

Teaches

• the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as
• appropriate .  Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and
• utilizes
• opportunities for health counseling
• with patients and families/caregivers.  Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.

• Provides and

maintains

a safe environment for the patient.

6.

Assists

the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.

• Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice Interdisciplinary Group Members to meet the

emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.

• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.

Additional Duties

• Participates in on-call duties as

defined

by the on-call policy.

• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when

required .

• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and

maintains

and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service

classes.

• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
• Actively

participates

in quality

assessment

performance improvement teams and activities.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by the employee of this job.  The employee may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those

stated

in this description.

JOB REQUIREMENTS (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities)

• Graduate of National League for Nursing accredited school of nursing.
• Minimum of two years of experience, at least one of which is

in the area of

public health, home care, or hospice

nursing

is preferred.

• Management experience

not

required .  Responsible for supervising hospice aides.

• Registered nurse with current licensure to practice professional nursing in the state.
• Demonstrates excellent observation, problem solving, verbal and written communications; nursing skills per

competency checklist.

• Shows

ability

to organize and prioritize workload independently.

• Prolonged or

considerable

walking or standing.  Able to lift, position, and/or transfer patients.  Able to lift supplies and equipment.  Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.  Visual acuity

and hearing to perform required nursing skills.

• Maintains a current CPR certification.
• The ability to drive and/or have access to transportation for

agency related

travel ( e.g.

community partners,

patients, etc.) is an essential function of the job.  Must have and

maintain

a valid driver’s license,

maintain

automobile insurance

coverage

and have access to an automobile.

• Self-directed and able to work with minimal supervision.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employees are asked to sign a statement

indicating

whether they can perform the essential functions of their

position. Requests for accommodation will be considered on an individual basis.

2.

Typical functions of this role include standing, sitting, and walking

a majority of

the time.

There are occasions

when kneeling, stooping, bending, or reaching may be necessary.

• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 25

lbs

on a regular basis. There may be occasions in

which the employee must be able to lift or move up to 50 lbs.

4.

Specific

• vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision,
• depth
• perception
• and ability to adjust focus.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting.  The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US.  Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets.  More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at
http://www.pennantgroup.com.