Hospice RN Full-Time Day Shift(8AM-4:30PM)

Lutheran Senior Services•St. Louis, MO

3d•$31 - $50

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides skilled nursing services to hospice patients in accordance with physician orders and an individualized plan of care. The RN assesses patients’ physical, functional, psychosocial, environmental, cultural, and spiritual needs, including risk for pathological grief and communication patterns, and evaluates how terminal illness affects activities of daily living. The nurse initiates and revises the interdisciplinary team (IDT) plan of care, determines the frequency and scope of services, and applies hospice admission and recertification criteria. The RN evaluates caregiver capacity and medication administration, completes required consent and notification paperwork, monitors outcomes, and provides specialized palliative and end-of-life nursing care. Services may include physical assessments, symptom relief, preventive and rehabilitative procedures, patient and family education, catheter care, venipuncture, IV fluids or medications, and dressing changes. The nurse counsels patients and families on disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, ethical concerns, and medications. Using a case-management approach, the RN coordinates care with the interdisciplinary team, physicians, facilities, and other agencies as needed. The role includes maintaining clinical documentation using medical-record software on a laptop or agency desktop, participating in clinical record reviews, in-service programs and staff meetings, and providing hospice training to staff and caregivers. When aide services are provided, the RN develops a written aide assignment and visits the patient at least every two weeks to assess those services and revise the aide plan as needed. This role involves visits in patients’ homes and the community, including exposure to travel hazards, weather, potentially unsafe environments, emotionally upset residents or family members, fumes, chemicals, and infectious materials. The employee may need to work beyond normal hours and on weekends or holidays when necessary. Appropriate ergonomic and personal safety equipment is provided as needed.

Requirements

Current RN license to practice nursing in the state of practice.
Graduate of an accredited nursing school.
CPR BLS certification from the American Red Cross.
Computer skills and excellent communication skills.
Ability to work well with others, function under pressure, and work independently.
Compliance with the standards outlined in the Nurse Practice Act.
Basic knowledge of procedures included in the EverTrue Registered Nurse description.
Ability to follow instructions from physicians, nursing supervisors, and other professional staff.
Ability to communicate effectively with managers, patients, families, and coworkers.
Ability to assess safety in home situations for oneself, patients, and other staff, including physical and psychological dangers.
Ability to effectively cope with patients, families, and others from varying backgrounds, socioeconomic conditions, and value systems.
Ability to lift 75 pounds, lift 20 pounds from floor to shoulder, push or pull 35 pounds, and roll a resident from prone to supine to sitting.
Ability to perform duties involving standing, walking, handling objects or tools, sitting, reaching, squatting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and occasionally climbing or balancing.
Ability to meet sensory and communication demands, including speech clarity and recognition and written expression.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in general nursing practice, hospice, palliative care, or end-of-life care.

Responsibilities

Provide skilled nursing services to hospice patients in accordance with physician orders and the plan of care.
Observe, assess, diagnose, counsel, provide care, and teach patients and families about health needs.
Complete and document initial and ongoing assessments of terminal illness effects on physical, functional, psychosocial, environmental, cultural, spiritual, communication, and daily-living needs.
Initiate and revise the interdisciplinary team plan of care in consultation with team members and physicians.
Determine the scope and frequency of services based on acuity and patient and family needs.
Apply hospice admission and recertification criteria to determine appropriate levels of care and eligibility.
Assess caregiver ability to meet patient needs and evaluate and document patient or family medication administration.
Complete required consent, election, and notification paperwork.
Evaluate the effects of care and regularly reassess nursing needs.
Provide specialized palliative and end-of-life nursing services, including assessment, symptom relief, patient and family teaching, catheter care, venipuncture, IV fluids or medications, and dressing changes as needed.
Counsel patients and families about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, and ethical concerns.
Review medication use and provide medication information, counseling, and education.
Coordinate care using a case-management approach and maintain connections across the continuum of care.
Coordinate plans of care with facilities for patients who reside in them and respond to facility questions and concerns.
Inform physicians and other personnel of changes in patient needs and intervention outcomes.
Make referrals to other agencies or services as needed.
Prepare clinical and progress notes and submit documentation according to agency policy.
Use medical-record software on a laptop or agency desktop, starting documentation in the patient’s home and completing it after visits.
Participate in clinical record reviews, in-service programs, and staff meetings, and provide hospice training to staff, family members, and informal caregivers.
Develop written aide assignments based on patient and family needs when home health aide services are provided.
Visit patients receiving aide services at least every two weeks to assess aide services and relationships, document compliance with the plan of care, and revise the aide plan as needed.
Evaluate personal support needs and use identified systems to address them.

Benefits

Paid time off (PTO) and PTO sell-back.
Retirement savings benefits with an employer match contribution.
Education financial assistance.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Wellness benefits.
Pay advances through PayActiv.
Caregiver support through TCARE.
Leaves of absence.
Retail deals and discounts through Perkspot.
Commuter support.
Extended sick pay.
Bereavement pay.
Jury duty pay.
Medical and pharmacy coverage.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Life insurance.
Long-term and short-term disability coverage.
Voya income protection benefits for hospital, critical illness, and accident.
Pet insurance.
Shift differentials: $3.00 per hour for evenings, $2.50 per hour for nights, and $2.50 per hour for weekends in Illinois and Missouri; rates may vary in other states.