PRN LVN Hospice - Northeast Houston

Interim HealthCare•Pearland, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN) provides direct hospice nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse and in accordance with physician orders, the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) plan of care, applicable laws and regulations, accepted nursing standards, payor requirements, and organizational policies. The nurse delivers treatments and comfort-focused interventions, observes and reports changes in patient condition, supports pain and symptom management, educates patients and families about end-of-life care, and collaborates with the hospice IDG to promote comfort, dignity, safety, and continuity of care. The role provides services within the LPN/LVN scope of practice and as planned, delegated, and supervised by a registered nurse. It includes ongoing patient observation and reporting, care coordination, timely documentation, participation in IDG activities, QAPI and emergency preparedness programs, and continued competency development. Work is performed in patient homes and other hospice service settings throughout the Office’s geographic service area.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited practical or vocational nursing program.
Current, unrestricted LPN/LVN license in each state where services are provided.
At least 1,200 hours of experience as an LPN/LVN or successful completion of the Office’s preceptor program.
Current CPR certification for adults, children, and infants, as required by organizational policy.
Valid driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance when assignments include driving a personal vehicle.
Meet applicable federal and state health-screening requirements and criminal and abuse background-check requirements.
Successfully complete required written knowledge examination, competency evaluation, and verification of employment eligibility.
Communicate clearly, professionally, respectfully, and compassionately with patients, families, caregivers, clinicians, and other care partners.
Promptly and accurately communicate changes in patient condition, symptoms, treatment response, and safety concerns.
Educate patients and caregivers effectively, adapting communication to their needs and level of understanding.
Accurately interpret and communicate physician orders, care plans, clinical observations, and patient responses.
Document clinical observations, interventions, education, and patient responses clearly and within required timeframes.
Collaborate effectively as a member of the hospice IDG.
Exercise appropriate independent judgment within the LPN/LVN scope while working under registered nurse supervision.
Recognize changes in patient status and know when to report, reassess, or escalate concerns.
Prioritize responsibilities and adapt to changing patient needs, schedules, care settings, and urgent requests.
Demonstrate organization, accuracy, reliability, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, sound judgment, and appropriate boundaries.
Meet physical demands that include frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, reaching, and assisting with patient movement.
Have visual acuity, manual dexterity, hearing, and grasping ability sufficient to perform required nursing skills and assess patients.
Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds frequently.
Ability to use protective equipment and observe safety precautions in settings with exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, and potentially hazardous materials.
Ability to undertake prolonged periods of driving and electronic clinical documentation when required.

Nice To Haves

Twelve months of acute care nursing experience is preferred.
Hospice or palliative care experience is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct hospice nursing care within the LPN/LVN scope of practice under registered nurse supervision.
Provide physician-ordered services and interventions identified in the IDG plan of care, including authorized treatments and medication-related activities.
Observe patients, collect clinical information, and promptly report changes in condition, pain, symptoms, safety concerns, or unmet needs.
Provide directed pain and symptom management interventions and report patient responses to treatments and medications.
Assist registered nurses and physicians with specialized procedures and duties within authorized scope of practice.
Coordinate hospice services and report needs for nursing, social work, spiritual care, aide, volunteer, bereavement, or other IDG support.
Provide respectful, compassionate care consistent with hospice philosophy and the patient's goals, preferences, and plan of care.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about the plan of care, medications, treatments, self-care, safety, comfort measures, symptom management, and expected changes associated with advanced illness and dying.
Complete timely, accurate, relevant, and sufficient clinical documentation about services, patient response, progress, and care-team communication.
Communicate with the supervising registered nurse, physicians, and IDG members to support continuity of care and timely plan-of-care revisions.
Participate in IDG meetings, case conferences, in-services, and training as requested.
Participate in QAPI and support implementation of improvement strategies.
Participate in the Office’s Emergency Preparedness program as requested.
Collect and report clinical and operational data accurately and within required timeframes.
Use equipment, medications, supplies, and other resources safely, effectively, and efficiently.
Maintain required competencies and participate in professional growth and development.
Protect and appropriately access or disclose protected health information as necessary to perform job duties.
Travel routinely within the Office’s service area and perform assigned visits and schedules.
Work a flexible schedule that may include evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours as assigned.
Perform physical nursing duties, including assisting patients with standing, walking, repositioning, and transfers.