Registered Nurse (RN)- Case Manager Home Hospice

4610 West Georgia Medical Center, Inc.•LaGrange, GA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The RN Case Manager for Home Hospice travels in the West Georgia area to serve Wellstar patients receiving home hospice care. The role uses the nursing process to assume primary responsibility for terminally ill patients and their caregivers, in consultation with the primary physician, Hospice Medical Director, and interdisciplinary team. The nurse provides physical and psychosocial support to patients and supportive care to caregivers and families as they prepare for the patient’s death. The position reports to the Hospice Nurse Manager. Use of a personal vehicle is required, and mileage is reimbursed. Hospice RN experience is strongly preferred. Home Hospice or Home Care RN experience is a plus; the nurse will visit several patients a day in the field and support a hospice team and care plan. Reliable transportation within the Wellstar territory surrounding the West Georgia Medical, Spaulding, and Sylvan Grove campuses is required. The RN Case Manager coordinates care with other disciplines, including Clinical Care Partners, Social Workers, Chaplains, Bereavement Coordinators, and Volunteers. The role also supervises hospice aide care, coordinates transfers to inpatient hospice when needed, maintains documentation and the medical component of the care plan, supports quality improvement, and serves as a clinical resource to staff. The minimum education is an associate degree or nursing diploma; a bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred. Required credentials include BLS certification, RN licensure (single state or compact), a valid driver’s license, and private vehicle insurance. A minimum of two years of acute care or hospice/home care experience is preferred.

Requirements

Associate degree in nursing or nursing diploma; a bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred.
BLS, American Red Cross BLS, or BLS Instructor certification required upon hire.
Single-state RN license or RN compact license required.
Georgia or valid state driver’s license required.
Private vehicle insurance required.
Minimum two years of acute care or hospice/home care experience is preferred.
Emotional maturity and interpersonal skills.
Excellent assessment and clinical judgment skills.
Knowledge of developmental characteristics and disease processes across all ages, from neonates through geriatric patients.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Effective use of computers for patient care documentation.
Reliable transportation within the Wellstar territory surrounding West Georgia Medical, Spaulding, and Sylvan Grove campuses.
Personal vehicle required.

Nice To Haves

Hospice RN experience is strongly preferred.
Home Hospice or Home Care RN experience is a plus.
Minimum two years of acute care or hospice/home care experience is preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in nursing is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide ongoing patient care according to the interdisciplinary care plan and maintain contact with patients and families through calls and visits.
Educate patients and families about disease processes, symptom management, medication administration, nutrition, and signs of impending death.
Manage medications, including availability, safe storage, correct administration by family caregivers, compliance, and medication destruction according to DEA guidelines.
Assess symptoms, medication effectiveness, disease progression, patient safety, caregiving adequacy, abuse or neglect, and suicide risk; report patient responses to the physician.
Document patient decline and complications, update the individualized plan of care, and assess whether a change in level of care is needed.
Prepare patients and families for death, advise caregivers about anticipated changes, and pronounce patients at the time of death.
Consult with the primary physician and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, participating in team meetings, family conferences, and case studies.
Develop hospice aide personal care plans and supervise their implementation; document supervision and annual competencies.
Coordinate care and transfers to inpatient hospice facilities as needed.
Maintain current electronic medical record documentation and the medical component of the care plan; follow state and federal licensure guidelines and JCAHO standards.
Monitor nursing care quality, including safety and infection control, and address customer satisfaction concerns and complaints in a timely manner.
Communicate and coordinate with contracted personnel and agencies, including therapy providers, pharmacies, and durable medical equipment companies; assess need for DME.
Participate in department and system performance improvement activities, identify improvement methods, and help implement opportunities.
Serve as a clinical resource to PRN RNs, on-call RNs, LPNs, and Clinical Care Partners; participate in hiring and orientation of nursing staff.
Assume additional duties such as committee assignments, student education, peer review, and case study analysis; perform other duties as assigned.
Comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.