PALLIATIVE NURSE CLINICIAN

TriHealth•Blue Ash, OH

About The Position

The Palliative Nurse Clinician collaborates with the Palliative Care team in consultations and rounding on referred patients. The role provides clinical support and timely documentation of palliative care assessments and daily rounding, and educates patients, families, and staff about goals of care, symptom management, advance care planning, disease progression, medication management, and end-of-life issues. The clinician supports patient and family understanding of treatment options and the implications of care choices, and helps with care-planning discussions, problem solving, and goal setting. The clinician works closely with physicians, residents, nurses, other disciplines, and Care Management staff to coordinate referrals and transitions to other care settings. The role also includes mentoring students and colleagues, supporting evidence-based practice and research, reviewing outcomes with the team, and pursuing professional development. TriHealth team members are expected to demonstrate the SERVE standards and ALWAYS behaviors described in the posting.

Requirements

Associate's degree or diploma in nursing.
Four to five years of clinical nursing practice in an acute or primary care setting.
Registered Nurse required.
Highly motivated, self-directed professional.
Effective interpersonal skills.
Ability to develop relationships with patients, physicians, and other team members to provide care and education.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Membership in an associated national professional organization is preferred.
CHPN (Hospice & Palliative Nurse Certification) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Respond promptly to palliative medicine referrals and gather relevant clinical and psychosocial patient information.
Clarify or initiate conversations about patient and family understanding of illness and treatment options.
Promote effective communication and positive working relationships among the Palliative team, physicians, residents, nurses, and other disciplines.
Complete timely and accurate electronic medical record documentation of assessments, interventions, plans, outcomes, and patient or family responses.
Respond promptly to voicemails, emails, and other communications.
Educate patients and families within the scope of the Ohio Nurse Practice Act and TriHealth policy, including pertinent clinical information, medication management, disease progression, and end-of-life issues.
Help patients and families understand the implications of their choices.
Support care-planning meetings or conversations and assist with problem solving, goal setting, and decision-making skills.
Initiate appropriate referrals to chaplaincy, hospice liaison nursing, and other relevant disciplines.
Collaborate with Care Management staff on discharge preparation and, when indicated, contact patients or families after discharge and facilitate connection with appropriate health services.
Teach and educate other professional staff, including mentoring safe and appropriate use of prescribed opiates and other analgesics in accordance with guidelines.
Promote understanding of palliative medicine and the program through informal mentoring and formal presentations.
Work with the team to identify learning needs and educate internal and community health professionals on palliative medicine standards and developments.
Review overall outcomes with the team to improve clinical practice and maintain accurate patient records.
Critique palliative and hospice research and publications before incorporating new information into practice.
Identify palliative and hospice research needs and collaborate on or participate in nursing and medical research.
Identify knowledge and skill needs through self-assessment, peer review, and supervisor or medical director review; set professional growth goals and pursue education to increase competencies.
Provide peers with constructive feedback regarding their practice.
Demonstrate TriHealth SERVE standards and ALWAYS behaviors.