Hospice Nurse RN

MyMichigan Health•Midland, MI

About The Position

The Staff Registered Nurse provides professional, comprehensive nursing care to hospice patients within the scope of agency services. The role uses the nursing process—assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation—in accordance with nursing practice standards, physician orders, and agency policies and procedures. The nurse floats throughout the service area and provides symptom management for end-of-life discomfort through ongoing patient visits based on acuity and level of care needed. The nurse assesses patient and caregiver needs, initiates and adapts plans of care, coordinates services with the multidisciplinary team, and communicates changes in condition to physicians and other care providers. The role may coordinate care delivered by an LPN and home health aide, provide education to patients and caregivers, and participate in staff orientation, community education, and agency improvement activities. Weekend and holiday rotations and on-call duties are part of the role.

Requirements

Associate degree in nursing (NRG specialization).
Registered Nurse credential in Michigan.
Basic Life Support certification from AHA within one month of hire or transfer.
Current, valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance; reliable transportation.
One year of direct patient-care nursing experience is preferred; medical/surgical experience is also preferred.
Strong critical-thinking skills and ability to function as part of a team.
Successful completion of agency orientation and competency programs.
Effective verbal and written communication skills and ability to speak English.
Ability to recognize people’s needs and concerns and maintain constructive interpersonal relationships.
Ability to work independently and demonstrate problem-solving and organizational skills.
Ability to drive under hazardous road conditions.
Ability to work in unpredictable home situations with potential exposure to communicable diseases.
Ability to perform essential job functions with reasonable accommodation.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, work independently and cooperatively, maintain regular and predictable attendance, and stay awake.
Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including latex materials or an appropriate substitute if required.
Ability to meet physical demands including prolonged sitting, standing, and walking; frequent stooping, kneeling, or crouching; and occasional lifting or carrying 21–50 pounds, frequent handling of 20 pounds, and constant handling of 10 pounds.
Ability to work weekend and holiday rotations and on-call duties.

Nice To Haves

Medical/surgical nursing experience.

Responsibilities

Understand hospice admission and recertification criteria and respond appropriately to patient conditions related to those criteria.
Assess patients’ physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and environmental needs upon admission.
Regularly assess patient needs and caregiver abilities, communicating with team members to support patient and family/caregiver care.
Initiate plans of care for assigned patients and revise or adapt them as needed.
Provide symptom management for discomfort related to end-of-life care.
Provide nursing care through ongoing visits based on patient acuity and level of care, or arrange services through specialized staff.
Coordinate patient care by evaluating outcomes, providing feedback about patient status and needed care-plan changes, and arranging referrals as needed.
Coordinate care provided by an LPN and home health aide when applicable.
Implement preventative and rehabilitative nursing procedures and use community resources to support patient care.
Notify physicians of changes in patient condition or care needs and obtain new orders as needed.
Document services in the agency documentation system and assist with maintaining patient records.
Provide patients, caregivers, and physicians with information about disease processes, end-of-life care, and ethical concerns.
Participate in the clinical and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care and prioritize needs.
Serve as a preceptor for student educational visits and participate in orientation of new staff as assigned.
Participate in agency, community, and home health/hospice organization education and activities as assigned and appropriate.
Attend staff meetings, in-service education, and other learning opportunities.
Maintain awareness of personal support needs and take appropriate actions to protect personal health and safety.
Maintain employee personnel and activity records as required by agency policy.
Follow agency policies and standards for timely, accurate, and productive work; maintain confidentiality and comply with personal appearance and behavior standards.
Participate in weekend and holiday rotations, on-call duties, and the agency performance-improvement process.
Assist with agency community education activities as requested and perform other duties as assigned.