RN - We 72

Covenant Health•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

Covenant Health HomeCare and Hospice provides home health and hospice services as part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system. The Registered Nurse, Hospice 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 for patients throughout the duration of life. The RN works primarily on Saturdays and Sundays, plus one consecutive workday on either Friday or Monday, and reports to the assigned Hospice Clinical Supervisor. The role requires travel to all counties served by Covenant Hospice.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
Three years of professional experience in a hospital or prior home health experience.
Tennessee RN licensure, maintained throughout employment.
Current CPR certification.
Valid Tennessee Class D driver’s license and state-mandated minimum insurance coverage.
Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at hire and throughout employment.
Ability to travel to all counties served by Covenant Hospice.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assess the effects of terminal illness on patients’ physical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental needs and activities of daily living.
Promote a palliative home environment that supports a smooth transition at the time of death, considering risk for pathological grief and cultural, spiritual, and communication needs.
Implement individualized plans of care and recommend revisions as necessary, focusing on symptom management, 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 for bed-confined patients.
Prepare clinical and nursing notes reflecting the progression of the disease process.
Coordinate patient and family services with the interdisciplinary team through daily communication as needed and bi-weekly IDG meetings; use a case-management approach and refer to other services as needed.
Serve as liaison between providers and patients or families; communicate orders and changes in patient needs to providers, staff, and families.
Determine the scope and frequency of services based on acuity and patient and family needs; update plans of care and visit calendars as needed.
Develop and oversee individualized home health aide plans of care.
Supervise LPNs and Hospice/Home Health Aides providing services.
Assist in orienting new employees and provide hospice training to staff, family members, and informal caregivers.
Evaluate patient and family responses to education and care, assess caregivers’ ability to meet patients’ immediate needs, and advocate for respite care as needed.
Apply knowledge of Medicare guidelines and follow admission, discharge, on-call, and death procedures.
Follow infection-control practices, including proper bag technique, hand washing, glove use, handling and disposal of waste and contaminated materials, linen care, and cleaning equipment used in the home.
Plan visits appropriately, including communicating estimated arrival times to patients and caregivers.
Provide age-, culture-, and religion-specific care and demonstrate competency in required nursing skills.
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.