Discharge Educator (Full Time)

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital•Lake Charles, LA

About The Position

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: Identifies patients for teaching, discharge, and extended care facility needs. Collaborates with physicians, caregivers, patient, family, other departmental team members, and payor to proactively develop and implement a safe and appropriate discharge plan . SUPERVISION: Reports directly to Director of Nursing RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES: Educate/Reiterate education on diagnosis. Use resources such as Truven, Ipad education. Ensure patient has a plan for how they will get their new prescriptions. Offer to have medication filled at our facility's pharmacy to ensure that the patient has access to their new medications before they are discharged from the hospital. If patient is low income, or no insurance offer to fill prescriptions at Moss pharmacy, where there are programs to help with affording medications. Go over medications to ensure patient understands what the medications are for and why they are taking them. Anticipate when patients are nearing discharge. Huddle with discharge planners, case management, social service. Round with providers. Communicate with assigned nurses/charge nurse/ PT. Educate on home care Educate on specific diagnosis Educate on new medicates, make sure able to afford medications. Educate on DME. Make sure preferred pharmacy documented and updated. Review previous day's discharges to check for hospital follow up appointments. Ensure any patient discharged to home has follow up appointment. Identify patient criteria for follow up phone calls: Patients discharged in last 72-96 hours; Patients discharged to home; History of frequent re-admissions. Make follow up phone calls to patients regarding, medications, appointments, DME, Home Health, etc. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description. EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE Graduate of School of Nursing Current Louisiana Registered Nurse license or compact state license as Registered Nurse BLS-CPR certified 2 years of bedside nursing care, preferred but not required. Cardiovascular Certification preferred Physical Demands/Work Environment Work requires a variety of physical activities including sitting, standing and walking. Bending, stooping, and lifting is minimal. The work environment may be physically confining. Must have normal hearing or utilize adaptive hearing devices if duties require listening with a stethoscope to discern breath sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds. Visual acuity required for a variety of activities. Ability to do shift work as required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Experience Memorial is more than a slogan, its the care we provide our patients and its the commitment to our community and our team members. As a nationally certified Great Place to Work, at Lake Charles Memorial Health System you will have the opportunity to be a part of an organizational culture that supports not only exceptional patient care but also the well-being and professional growth of our employees. Join us and be a part of a team where your contributions are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your success is celebrated. Working at Lake Charles Memorial Health System | Great Place To Work

Requirements

Graduate of School of Nursing
Current Louisiana Registered Nurse license or compact state license as Registered Nurse
BLS-CPR certified

Nice To Haves

2 years of bedside nursing care, preferred but not required.
Cardiovascular Certification preferred

Responsibilities

Educate/Reiterate education on diagnosis.
Use resources such as Truven, Ipad education.
Ensure patient has a plan for how they will get their new prescriptions.
Offer to have medication filled at our facility's pharmacy to ensure that the patient has access to their new medications before they are discharged from the hospital.
If patient is low income, or no insurance offer to fill prescriptions at Moss pharmacy, where there are programs to help with affording medications.
Go over medications to ensure patient understands what the medications are for and why they are taking them.
Anticipate when patients are nearing discharge.
Huddle with discharge planners, case management, social service.
Round with providers.
Communicate with assigned nurses/charge nurse/ PT.
Educate on home care
Educate on specific diagnosis
Educate on new medicates, make sure able to afford medications.
Educate on DME.
Make sure preferred pharmacy documented and updated.
Review previous day's discharges to check for hospital follow up appointments.
Ensure any patient discharged to home has follow up appointment.
Identify patient criteria for follow up phone calls: Patients discharged in last 72-96 hours; Patients discharged to home; History of frequent re-admissions.
Make follow up phone calls to patients regarding, medications, appointments, DME, Home Health, etc.