PRN LVN Hospice - Northeast Houston

Interim HealthCare - Houston, TX (McCoy)•Pearland, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse 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 LVN delivers treatments and comfort-focused interventions, monitors 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 serves patients in homes, hospice inpatient or respite settings, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and other locations where hospice services are provided. It requires routine travel within the Office’s service area, a flexible schedule that may include evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours, and frequent interaction with patients, families, caregivers, and members of the care team.

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 the required written knowledge examination, competency evaluation, and verification of employment eligibility.
Communicate clearly, professionally, respectfully, and compassionately with patients, families, caregivers, physicians, nurses, IDG members, facility staff, and other care partners.
Promptly and accurately communicate patient changes, treatment responses, and safety concerns to appropriate team members.
Accurately interpret and communicate physician orders, plans of care, clinical observations, and patient responses.
Document observations, interventions, education, and patient responses clearly, accurately, and within required timeframes.
Work under registered nurse supervision while exercising appropriate independent judgment within the LVN scope of practice.
Follow orders, care plans, protocols, and procedures, and recognize when changes require reporting, reassessment, or escalation.
Recognize and respond appropriately to changes in pain, symptoms, functional status, cognition, respiratory status, intake, elimination, skin integrity, and other indicators of decline or distress.
Prioritize patient-care responsibilities and adapt to changing needs, schedules, care settings, and urgent requests.
Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, sound judgment, appropriate boundaries, organization, accuracy, reliability, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Travel routinely within the geographic area served by the Office.
Meet the physical demands of frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, reaching, and assisting patients with movement and transfers.
Have the visual acuity, manual dexterity, hearing, and ability to manipulate clinical equipment needed to perform nursing skills and assess patients.
Frequently lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds.
Work a flexible schedule, including evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours, as assigned.
Use protective equipment and follow extensive safety precautions when exposed to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, or other potentially infectious or hazardous materials.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide direct hospice nursing care within the LVN scope of practice, as planned, delegated, and supervised by a registered nurse.
Provide physician-ordered services and interventions identified in the IDG plan of care, including permitted treatments and medication-related activities.
Observe patients, collect clinical information, and promptly report changes in condition, symptoms, pain, safety concerns, or unmet needs to the supervising registered nurse.
Provide directed pain and symptom management interventions and evaluate and report patient responses to treatments and medications.
Assist the registered nurse and physician 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 each 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 the dying process.
Complete timely, accurate, relevant, and sufficient clinical documentation about services, patient responses, progress toward goals, and communication with the care team.
Communicate with the supervising registered nurse, physicians, and other IDG members to promote continuity and timely plan-of-care revision.
Participate in IDG meetings, case conferences, in-services, and training as requested.
Participate in the QAPI program and support implementation of improvement strategies.
Participate in the Office’s Emergency Preparedness program as requested.
Collect and report clinical and operational data accurately, completely, and within required timeframes.
Use equipment, medications, supplies, and other resources safely, effectively, and efficiently.
Participate in professional growth and development and maintain required competencies.
Safeguard and access protected health information as necessary to perform assigned duties.