Role:
The Pool RN is responsible for assessing and identifying patient/family needs using a palliative and supportive nursing process for new and existing patients/families in coordination with the Plan of Care and Interdisciplinary Group (IDG).
Qualifications:
- Current Florida license as RN, or current licensure from another state plus a temporary Florida permit
- Mobile Driver - Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance per Company policy
- Reliable transportation to meet visit schedule
- Minimum one (1) year in-patient nursing, hospice, or home health experience
- Previous experience working with an EMR/EHR (Electronic Medical/Health Record) system
- Ability to use equipment with visual and auditory mechanisms
- Ability to effectively communicate (written and oral) in English
- Flexible schedule to meet the needs of hospice patients
- Ability to physically access any home (i.e., navigate stairs and narrow spaces, tolerate heat and lack of air conditioning) in any area Company serves
- Ability to manage the emotional stress of working with and caring for terminally ill patients and their families
- Ability to perform the essential functions and physical requirements (including, but not limited to: lifting patients and/or equipment, bending, pushing/pulling, kneeling) of the job with or without reasonable accommodationCompetencies:
- Satisfactorily complete competency requirements for this position.
- Responsibilities of all employees
- Represent the Company professionally at all times through care delivered and/or services provided to all clients.
- Comply with all State, federal and local government regulations, maintaining a strong position against fraud and abuse.
- Comply with Company policies, procedures and standard practices.
- Observe the Company's health, safety and security practices.
- Maintain the confidentiality of patients, families, colleagues and other sensitive situations within the Company.
- Use resources in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Promote the Company through participation in community and professional organizations.
- Participate proactively in improving performance at the organizational, departmental and individual levels.
- Improve own professional knowledge and skill level.
- Advance electronic media skills.
- Support Company research and educational activities.
- Share expertise with co-workers both formally and informally.
- Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement activities as appropriate for the position.
- Job Responsibilities:
- Assess patient/family and identify immediate and ongoing needs and appropriate nursing interventions, including change in level of care.
- Coordinate patient care, including assessing psychosocial, spiritual care, and volunteer needs, and make appropriate referrals, as needed.
- Continually assess patient’s eligibility for hospice care and facilitate medical review, as needed.
- Provide and manage direct nursing care to patients and families as part of Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), incorporating psychosocial, spiritual, cultural, physical and biological components, and appropriate nursing intervention and follow-up.
- Coordinate the Plan of Care, ensuring that an individualized Plan of Care is developed that accurately reflects the patient’s evolving needs.
- Demonstrate clinical skills regarding: case management, application of company policy and procedure, physical assessment, intravenous therapies, pain medication titration, symptom management, and patient/family relationships.
- Facilitate coordination of care and documentation for change in level of care, team transfer and hospice discharge.
- Update interdisciplinary group and other health care professionals about pending medical appointments/ diagnostic testing and outcome/result(s).
- Consult, refer, and collaborate with other professionals to promote quality and continuity of patient/family care.
- Take verbal orders from physicians, ARNPs and physicians’ assistants.
- Educate patient, family, caregivers and other health professionals about disease process and decline, palliative interventions, care giving, dying process and safety practices.
- Report changes in the patient’s condition to appropriate members of the IDG or other health professionals.
- Attend patient deaths; prepare body for transport; oversee disposal of medications.
- Provide appropriate bereavement interventions to the family and caregiver in conjunction with social services staff.
- Accept responsibility and is accountable for nursing actions: demonstrate an understanding of the legal consequences of nursing actions; request supervision when needed; perform within the guidelines established by the Florida Nurse Practice Act.Administrative
- Document assessment, plan, intervention and evaluation on appropriate Company forms with accuracy, timeliness, legibility, professional terminology and awareness of legal and regulatory implications.
- Document patient condition and decline to support hospice and level of care appropriateness.
- Request medical records from physicians, hospitals, laboratories and other outside sources for use to determine patient’s eligibility for hospice.
- Review documentation of own care team and audit medical records to ensure compliance with standards and quality of care.
- Present concise and pertinent oral and written reports to IDG; respect and encourage input from all disciplines.
- Communicate accurately and completely to physicians, staff members, patients, families, and supervisors; utilize positive approaches when working with others.
- Facilitate care team meeting by incorporating input of LPN and hospice aide to establish, evaluate, and revise patients’ Plan of Care and prepare for interdisciplinary group meeting.
- May schedule LPN and hospice aide schedule for own care team.
- Mentor LPN and hospice aide through demonstration of skills, providing feedback on job performance and coordinating activities to enhance job performance.
- Apprise Clinical Manager of changes in patient’s condition, care needs and concerns of patient, family and other health care providers.
- May participate in orienting new staff, students, volunteers and board members.
- Supervise patient care given by other nursing team members; i.e., LPNs, Hospice Aides, and contract nurses.
- Exemplify behaviors supportive of internal mission statement.
- Participate on committees and projects, as assigned.
- Act as a resource to peers, students, orientees and other staff members.
- Participate in activities and professional development that enhance hospice nursing skills.
- Participate in the broad education process of the Company, both to the medical and lay communities. Professional Development
- Pursue own professional growth through attendance at required in-services and other educational offerings.
- Establish professional goals for self and continually evaluate self in the attainment of these goals.Financial
- Utilize supplies, equipment, medications, laboratory and patient therapies within the Company philosophy.
- Employ palliative and home care management modalities in care of the patient prior to hospitalization.
- Demonstrate knowledge of payment structures and paperwork necessary to change financial classes.
- Collaborate with Clinical Manager about clinical authorizations.Other
- Perform other duties as assigned.