Registered Nurse (RN), Hospice - Per Diem

Virtua Health•Lippincott - 301 Lippincott Drive, CO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides hospice care in patients’ homes by assessing, planning, and implementing treatment plans to keep terminally ill patients comfortable. The RN monitors patients, administers medications and treatments, and supports patients and their families through end-of-life care. The position applies the nursing process within a team nursing model and coordinates care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, physicians, patients, and families. The RN also works with the intake team, referring physicians, and other referral sources to promote the hospice philosophy of care. This position travels statewide. The role includes in-person home visits, assessment and response to changes in patient condition, symptom and pain management, patient and family education, crisis intervention, and coordination of services and resources. The RN participates in on-call, weekend, and holiday coverage as necessary and maintains timely, complete documentation in accordance with agency policies and applicable confidentiality requirements.

Requirements

Minimum of 2–3 years of nursing experience.
Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
Current New Jersey nursing license to practice as a registered nurse.
Current CPR certification and BLS.
Current proof of a valid driver’s license and auto insurance.
Excellent assessment skills and clinical judgment.
Knowledge of the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their caregivers.

Nice To Haves

Two years of hospice experience preferred.
Home care setting experience preferred.
BSN preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform and document the nursing process—assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation—for patients receiving in-person care at home.
Review and follow up on family education, patient care plans, and coordinated services; triage and respond to changes in patient condition.
Provide nursing care, emotional support, and education to patients and families.
Assist with wound care, treatments, procedures, and comfort care.
Administer medications and treatments according to the patient’s plan of care to promote comfort and relieve symptoms.
Observe, record, and report disease symptoms, changes in the patient’s physical, emotional, spiritual, or social condition, and responses to treatment.
Communicate significant findings, problems, and changes in the patient’s condition or environment to the physician and health care team.
Teach patients and families about symptom reporting and the dying process, and provide crisis intervention.
Assess pain at each visit, use the identified pain scales, establish an acceptable pain level with the patient, and implement appropriate pain-management interventions.
Pronounce death with appropriate documentation, provide care of the body and family support, and dispose of medication; when needed, relay information to the identified funeral home, local EMT, or police.
Consult physicians for appropriate orders.
Support the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of patients and families.
Participate actively in the interdisciplinary team and collaborate with team members to coordinate care.
Refer patients to other disciplines and medical equipment or supply companies as needed to support comfort and symptom relief.
Coordinate patient care with disciplines and community resources, both internal and external, in a fiscally responsible manner.
Perform assigned on-call responsibilities and services for patients and families; participate in weekend, holiday, and on-call coverage as necessary.
Use appropriate resources to maintain hospice-care knowledge, including regulatory and reimbursement guidelines, and integrate that knowledge into clinical practice.
Follow organizational policies and procedures, including HIPAA and patient confidentiality requirements.
Submit complete, legible documentation within agency timelines that clearly reflects care provided.
Maintain nursing supplies, anticipate supply needs, and keep the working environment safe and clean.
Participate in QAPI activities and interdisciplinary team meetings.
Complete other assigned duties and projects, demonstrate flexibility, and adhere to organizational competencies and standards of behavior.