RN HOME HEALTH

Covenant Health•Knoxville, TN

12d

About The Position

Provides professional nursing care to an assigned group of terminally ill patients and coordinates care planning with the interdisciplinary team to support the best possible outcomes throughout patients’ lives. The RN assesses patient and caregiver needs, implements and revises individualized plans of care, provides symptom management and end-of-life care, and coordinates services with the patient, family, providers, and interdisciplinary team. The role also supervises LPNs and aides, provides education and training, and follows applicable Medicare requirements and Covenant HomeCare policies.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
At least one year of professional experience in a hospital or prior home health experience.
Tennessee RN licensure, maintained throughout employment.
CPR certification.
Valid Tennessee Class D driver’s license and state-mandated minimum insurance coverage.
Driving record that meets Covenant Health minimum standards at hire and throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Clinical experience pertinent to hospice, including oncology, palliative care, or end-of-life care.

Responsibilities

Assess the impact of terminal illness on patients’ physical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental needs and activities of daily living.
Facilitate a palliative home environment that supports patients and families through the transition at the time of death, including attention to grief risk, cultural and spiritual considerations, and communication patterns.
Implement individualized plans of care and recommend or make revisions as appropriate, including symptom management focused on comfort and reducing pain and suffering.
Consult with and educate patients and families about the terminal diagnosis and disease process, self-care, end-of-life care, and ethical concerns.
Initiate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures, including pressure ulcer, pain crisis, and bowel impaction prevention and care of bed-confined patients.
Prepare clinical and nursing notes reflecting the progression of the disease process at the end of life.
Coordinate patient and family services and prioritize needs with the interdisciplinary team through communication and bi-weekly IDG meetings as needed.
Use a case-management approach and refer patients to other services as needed.
Act as liaison between providers and patients or families; communicate orders and changes in patient needs to the provider, family, and staff.
Determine the scope and frequency of services based on acuity and patient and family needs; update plans of care and visit schedules, and develop and oversee individualized HHA plans of care.
Supervise LPNs and Hospice/Home Health Aides and assist with orienting new employees.
Provide specialized hospice training to staff, family members, and informal caregivers.
Evaluate patient and family responses to education and care, assess caregiver capacity to meet immediate needs, and advocate for respite care when needed.
Maintain working knowledge of Medicare guidelines and comply with them.
Follow admission, discharge, on-call, and death procedures in accordance with Covenant HomeCare policy.
Use infection-control techniques and handle equipment, waste, body fluids, needles, and contaminated linens or garments appropriately in the home.
Plan visits in advance, including coordinating arrival estimates with patients and caregivers.
Meet age-specific, culture-specific, and religion-specific needs of the population served and demonstrate skills on the annual skills checklist.
Travel throughout all counties served by Covenant Hospice.
Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards; complete annual education assignments; work toward goals and objectives; and participate in quality-improvement initiatives as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.