Registered Nurse (RN) - Hospice Case Manager - West Suburbs

Advocate Health•Harristown, IL

3d•$38 - $57

About The Position

The Hospice Case Manager identifies and coordinates patient and family care to support terminally ill patients and their families in hospice settings. The case manager assesses needs and determines the frequency of patient and family contact, with a minimum of one contact every 15 days. The role uses teaching, assessment, and intervention skills to provide end-of-life comfort care and maximize quality of life. The position serves West suburban communities and is full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one winter and one summer holiday on-call shift from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The case manager educates patients and families about disease processes and trajectory, disease management, hospice philosophy, and signs and symptoms of decline and end of life. The role coordinates and leads the interdisciplinary care group for assigned patients and families, develops and updates plans of care, coordinates services, and collaborates with physicians and other team members. The case manager monitors patient responses to treatment, medication, and teaching; administers prescribed medications and treatments; arranges necessary equipment and supplies; and maintains accurate electronic health record documentation in accordance with agency, accreditation, state, and federal requirements. The role also makes appropriate referrals, supervises home health aide and licensed practical nurse visits, supports discharge planning and continuity of care, and orients and mentors new staff as requested. In Wisconsin, duties may include OASIS assessments and hospice assessments, plan-of-care updates, and related nursing procedures. The position requires physical patient-handling tasks and exposure to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and biological hazards; protective clothing and equipment are used as needed. External candidates may be eligible for a $3,000 sign-on bonus.

Requirements

Current Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the team member practices.
Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association; must be obtained upon hire unless the department leader determines it is not required.
Valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.
Completion of an accredited or approved nursing program.
Typically 1–2 years of nursing experience, including experience in home health, hospice, medical/surgical, long-term care, emergency care/ICU, oncology, or similar related experience.
Competence in deformity prevention, normal range of motion, body mechanics, body alignment, fundamental human behavior, and the effects of stress on individuals and groups.
Strong awareness and perception skills to assess patient needs and concerns and recognize changes in health condition.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent decision-making and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to work independently and make sound judgments.
Excellent prioritization and organizational skills.
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist and up to 20 lbs. overhead; carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance; push or pull with 30 lbs. of force; and perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
Ability to work safely with people of various sizes and weights who have diverse and complex medical conditions and physical limitations.
Physical agility and stamina to move in confined spaces, including bending, kneeling, squatting, and occasionally reaching one or both arms overhead for extended periods.
Ability to work around frequent mechanical, electrical, chemical, blood, and body-fluid hazards and wear protective clothing and equipment as needed.
Functional speech, vision, hearing, and touch, with fine-hand manipulation skills.

Responsibilities

Identify and coordinate patient and family care for terminally ill patients in hospice settings, with patient and family contact at least every 15 days.
Teach patients and families about disease processes, disease management, hospice philosophy, and signs and symptoms of decline and end of life.
Update the primary physician as indicated and as required by agency, accreditation, state, and federal requirements.
Continuously review patients on the caseload, confirm appropriate service utilization and hospice level-of-care criteria, and refer patients to other team members as appropriate.
Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
Lead the interdisciplinary care group for assigned patients and families and develop, revise, and implement each patient’s plan of care.
Coordinate services and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide consistent care; arrange or recommend equipment, medical supplies, and other services as needed.
Complete and update electronic health record documentation according to agency and department standards and applicable accreditation, state, and federal guidelines.
Assess patient responses to treatments, medications, and teaching; adjust interventions and follow-up; revise plans of care with supporting documentation; and communicate problems or condition changes to physicians, supervisors, and the interdisciplinary team.
Enter verbal orders from physicians or advanced practice nurses into the electronic health record.
Supervise and perform home health aide and licensed practical nurse supervisory visits, and instruct paraprofessional staff according to agency standards and regulations.
Facilitate discharge planning and use interagency, system, and community resources to support continuity of care after discharge.
In Wisconsin, may conduct OASIS assessments for palliative care patients, hospice initial and comprehensive assessments, and plan-of-care updates; ensure continued skilled nursing and homebound criteria are met; and initiate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
Use proper body mechanics, assistive devices, and safety techniques during patient positioning, repositioning, and transport tasks involving lifting or pushing and pulling.
Orient and mentor new staff as requested.
Provide age-appropriate care by applying knowledge of growth and development and assessing and interpreting patient data in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Operate equipment necessary to perform the job and use protective clothing and equipment as needed.

Benefits

Potential $3,000 sign-on bonus for eligible external candidates.
Paid time off programs.
Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
Educational assistance program.
Premium pay, including shift and on-call pay, based on the teammate’s job.
Incentive pay for select positions.
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
Career development programs.