Registered Nurse for Hospice Services

CHSGa•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing care to Hospice Services patients, identifies patient and family needs, and provides supportive care in accordance with attending physician orders, the plan of care, and Hospice Services policies and procedures. The nurse manages an assigned patient/family caseload and works with physicians and the Interdisciplinary Group to coordinate care and respond to changing needs. The role includes assessing and managing pain and symptoms, teaching and counseling patients and families, maintaining accurate records, supervising Certified Nursing Assistant care plans, and providing support at the time of death and during bereavement. The nurse shares in 24-hour, seven-day coverage and may provide care for patients assigned to another primary nurse when needed.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited School of Nursing.
Hold a current license in good standing to practice as a Registered Professional Nurse in Georgia.
Have at least six months of RN experience in an acute care setting before a home care assignment, or the experience required by state regulations.
Current CPR certification.
Ability to meet Hospice employment conditions regarding health clearance and professional references.
Ability to assess and respond to patient and family needs in varied settings and cope with emotional stress.
Ability to work with minimal direct supervision and maintain professional relationships with patients and families.
Responsibility for maintaining clinical practice skills and learning and following Hospice policies and procedures on an ongoing basis.
Extensive knowledge of healthcare and long-term care organizations and their structure.
Effective oral and written communication and presentation skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, department heads, administrators, member organization presidents and leadership teams, and the general public.

Nice To Haves

More than one year of RN experience.
Experience in home care or hospice.

Responsibilities

Manage an assigned Hospice Services patient/family caseload through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care.
Coordinate care and resources by communicating with attending physicians, Hospice staff, and other Hospice agencies as needed.
Complete an initial patient assessment within 48 hours of the admission order and collaborate on the comprehensive assessment within five calendar days of hospice election.
Communicate regularly with the Patient Care Manager and attending physician about the patient/family caseload.
Collect information about physical, psychological, social, and spiritual factors affecting health and incorporate it into the plan of care.
Maintain current and accurate patient records, documenting observations, interventions, evaluations, and services on the day they are provided and submitting documentation promptly.
Collaborate with the Interdisciplinary Group to develop and update comprehensive plans of care and goals.
Provide nursing care based on systematic assessment, with a focus on pain control and symptom management.
Teach, supervise, and counsel patients and families about physical care and issues related to terminal conditions.
Guide patients and families in preparing for and coping with anticipated physical and psychological events during the dying process.
Meet with Hospice nursing staff to review caseload issues, provide professional support, and exchange feedback.
Participate in Interdisciplinary Group conferences and facilitate discussion of caseload issues.
Supervise the Certified Nursing Assistant plan of care every 14 days and document the supervision; observe care onsite when concerns arise and inform the Director of Hospice Services when ongoing concerns require a competency evaluation.
Inform the Director of Hospice Services of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues.
Provide associate nurse coverage for other nurses’ patients during on-call time or when requested by the Director of Hospice Services.
Share in providing 24-hour, seven-day coverage to Hospice Services patients and families.
Provide support at the time of death and during bereavement.
Participate in Hospice orientation and staff in-service training programs.
Participate in Hospice and community programs as requested to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care.
Follow Hospice policies and applicable state and federal rules and regulations governing hospice care.
Support and implement Hospice Services policies regarding patient and family care.
Promote the System’s image and reputation through servant leadership and direct, open communication.
Contribute to committees, workgroups, project management, and other System collaborative efforts.
Perform other duties as necessary to ensure the success of the System.