RN - Hospice (Olney Region)

Carle Health•Olney, IL

6d•$36 - $58

About The Position

The Hospice RN is a professional caregiver and member of the interdisciplinary team. The role coordinates and provides direct and indirect patient care using the nursing process to address the physical, psychosocial, environmental, and spiritual needs of Carle Home Services patients and families across the geographical area. Hours may vary depending on census and program needs. The RN manages hospice cases, assesses patients for appropriate placement under Medicare guidelines, and makes home visits to monitor end-stage disease and end-of-life symptoms. The nurse implements interventions to palliate symptoms in collaboration with attending physicians, triages calls when on call, and may visit to assess and pronounce death, provide post-mortem care, notify the County Coroner, funeral home, and physician, support the family, and refer to the Bereavement Coordinator. The position coordinates the healthcare team and continuum of care, directs licensed practical nurses, and assigns and supervises home health aides. It also requires timely and accurate completion, correction, and transmission of admission, recertification, visit, telephone, discharge, physician-order, and care-plan documentation in accordance with policy and hospice regulatory requirements.

Requirements

College diploma in Nursing.
At least one year of nursing experience.
Licensed Registered Professional Nurse (RN) through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) within 30 days.
Illinois driver's license.
Proof of auto insurance; timing varies.

Responsibilities

Understand hospice regulatory requirements and benefits, including covered services, recertifications, transfers, and non-recertifications, and follow documentation standards.
Perform case management activities including assessment, coordination, planning, monitoring, implementation, and evaluation.
Interact with clients, caregivers, and families to assess needs, plan care, arrange services, monitor progress, and provide support and education.
Complete admission documentation within policy guidelines, return complete admission documents to the office promptly, and complete required admission or recertification corrections within 24 hours of receipt.
Complete and transmit visit notes and telephone conversation records promptly according to policy, including physician orders and admission, routine, supervisory, telephone, and discharge notes.
Ensure physician orders are written promptly and care-plan corrections are entered and transmitted according to timelines.
Review verbal orders with the physician's office, document read-back, complete them immediately, and transmit them within policy timeframes; do not change orders after they have been documented and transmitted.
Ensure patient visit strings are added to the record so visits are not missed and the proper acronym appears on all physician orders.
Complete Home Health Aide supervisory visits.
Coordinate the healthcare team to maintain linkages across the continuum of care.
Communicate collaboratively, initiate case conferences when needed, and document interactions with other disciplines, physicians, care coordinators, insurers, and others.
Communicate pertinent information for patient care conferences for all admissions completed by the RN.
Provide care sensitively to the needs of patients and families and in accordance with the plan of care and orders.
Direct the activities of licensed practical nurses.
Make home health aide assignments, prepare written instructions, and supervise aides in patients' homes.
Assess patients for appropriate hospice placement under Medicare guidelines.
Make home visits to monitor signs and symptoms associated with end-stage disease and end of life.
Implement symptom-palliation interventions in collaboration with attending physicians.
Triage phone calls when on call.
Make home visits to assess and pronounce death, provide post-mortem care, notify the County Coroner, funeral home, and physician, provide comfort to the family, and refer appropriately to the Bereavement Coordinator.