Description

Provides direct palliative care to terminally ill patients and their families while functioning within a medically approved plan of care. Demonstrates proficiency in triaging patient emergencies both in person and on the phone while effectively communicating patient needs and concerns to the correct member of the hospice team.

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Accountability:

Reports to the Director of Pediatrics & Specialized Services

FLSA: Exempt

Requirements

Essential Job Functions:

1. Fosters and maintains an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients, and other professional members of the community
2. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the interdisciplinary team for each patient
3. Manages overall care to assigned patients encompassing coordination of all hospice disciplines
4. Assists the hospice interdisciplinary team in establishing and maintaining the individualized plan of care and treatment goals for each assigned patient
5. Gathers, reports, and analyzes patient care data and implements care accordingly
6. Capable of giving adequate report on patient’s condition to the Hospice Medical Director, members of the interdisciplinary team, other nurses and supervisors as needed
7. Immediately reports any changes to the Hospice Medical Director and interdisciplinary team
8. Reports unusual conditions, observations and pertinent information to the physician or Director of Nursing
9. Understands/provides basic principles of palliative care/pain management within the Scope of Practice
10. Complies with all documentation policies/procedures
11. Completes appropriate documentation in a legible and timely manner
12. Utilizes appropriate chain of command
13. Supervises and delegates duties to Certified Nurse Aides and Licensed Practical Nurses
14. Participates in Interdisciplinary Team Meetings and other Performance Improvement Activities
15. Pronouncement of Death with previously established physician orders; RN may pronounce death
16. Calls coroner and/or patient’s mortuary of choice and completes process related to removal of body from location of death
17. Provides intervention and support as needed related to terminal illness and loss
18. Provides emotional and spiritual support and makes appropriate referrals to other team members
19. Assesses and address depression and fear associates with terminal illness
20. Facilitates communication among patient, family, and hospice team
21. Identifies caregiver strain which may necessitate respite care relief, and or support
22. Educates and assist the patient and family to complete Advance Directives upon patient/family request
23. Provides personal care as assigned by the Interdisciplinary Team, Hospice Physician and Director of Clinical Operations which may consist of, but not limited to:
24. Nursing assessment/reassessment
25. Medication management, administration, and teaching
26. Providing comfort measures
27. Insertion/maintenance/removal of foley catheters
28. Insertion/maintenance/removal of various IV catheters for pain control/comfort
29. Application/adjustment of oxygen, IV, NG, G-Tube and other invasive lines as ordered by the physician.
30. Vital signs (B/P, T, P, R)
31. Assists with ambulation/transfers
32. Follows the State of Nevada Nurse Practice Act during all patient care activities
33. Follows policy and Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice for clinical care
34. Other duties as assigned

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Specific to Job Position:

1. Adheres to patient rights, abuse reporting and confidentiality policies
2. Attends scheduled staff meetings and/or in-service training
3. Adheres to departmental dress code requirements related to uniform, personal grooming, and other attire
4. Demonstrates reliability by making every attempt to report to work on time, providing proper notification for absences or tardiness and participating in required meetings
5. Demonstrates ability to problem-solve and make decisions by assessing situations and considering alternatives, seeking guidance and direction as necessary, utilizing proper chain of command
6. Demonstrates effective time management skills by coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency, willingness to adjust or revise work schedules as requested
7. Assumes responsibility for on-going personal development and continuing education
8. Stays current with all mandatory agency and regulatory requirements
9. Completes assigned projects within specified time frames

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Physical/Safety Requirements:

1. Must have the strength and endurance required for standing, walking, lifting, bending, and pushing on a consistent basis up to 50 lbs.
2. Must utilize appropriate durable medical equipment as needed in a safe manner
3. Uses appropriate body mechanics for safe patient care
4. Category 1 for potential exposure to blood/body fluids. (Requires the performance of procedures or other tasks in the work routine that involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues, or a potential for spills or splashes of them. Protective measures should be used while engaged in Category 1 tasks with exposure potential.)
5. Must utilize appropriate PPE as needed
6. Follows the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency/disaster
7. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, work-related stresses, and driving hazards
8. This individual may be required to drive to meetings with clients, health care professionals or patients’ homes
9. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the work environmental and physical demands listed above.

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Qualifications and Experience:

1. Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State Board of Nursing in the State of Nevada
2. Prefer 1 year experience as a registered nurse in hospice, home health or geriatric care
3. Bi-lingual (Spanish) Preferred
4. Must successfully complete a background check pursuant to NRS 449.188 and NRS 179A.100 along with a pre-employment drug screen and physical, TB testing, previous employment and reference checking, and an MVR (may include verification of education)
5. Must read, speak, write, and understand the English language
6. CPR/First Aid certification is required
7. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions
8. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing, patients, families, and other caregivers
9. Must be available for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and holidays
10. Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and current auto insurance
11. Must be willing to see patients in Pahrump

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Benefits:

Paid Time Off

NV Paid Leave

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision Insurance

Voluntary Ancillary Insurance

Paid Holidays

Floating Holiday

401k with Company Match

Employee Assistance Program

Employee Discount Program

Uniforms

Welcoming Culture