Registered Nurse (RN)-Inpatient Hospice, PRN, Variable

Prisma Health•Seneca, SC

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides hospice and palliative care to terminally ill patients of any age and supportive care to their families in the Hospice House. The RN uses the nursing process, follows organizational policies and regulatory requirements, and practices within the scope of the South Carolina Nursing Practice Act. This is a non-management position reporting to a supervisor, manager, director, or executive. The role is associated with Hospice of the Foothills and Nursing Service, with all Upstate locations listed.

Requirements

Associate degree in Nursing.
Current RN compact/multistate license recognized by the NCSBN Compact State, or a license to practice as an RN in the state where the team member works.
No experience required.

Nice To Haves

Two years of acute care nursing experience preferred.
Experience in hospice or other home care services preferred.
BSN preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physiological, psychosocial, developmental, and environmental needs, as well as families’ need for supportive care, considering physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
Assess pain and other symptoms; provide assessment findings to physicians and document assessments in the medical record.
Contribute to the interdisciplinary Plan of Care based on assessments and develop individualized nursing and CNA plans of care with patient and family input.
Monitor and update plans of care as patient status and family needs change.
Assess patient and family education needs and provide education; identify needs for additional services and refer to hospice team members.
Develop a plan of care for the time of death that reflects the express wishes of the patient and family.
Perform nursing interventions and document them thoroughly and promptly; use standing orders and medical authorization guidelines to guide practice.
Report assessment findings and changes in condition to physicians and make recommendations.
Recognize the family’s decision-making role and the patient’s right to self-determination.
Oversee CNA performance of the Plan of Care.
Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and progress toward goals, including patient responses to treatment and medication, disease progression, family responses, teaching outcomes, caregiver capacity, and cultural or developmental needs.
Support families during bereavement through follow-up, support of the bereavement Plan of Care, and participation in funeral, visitation, memorial, and bereavement program events whenever possible or scheduled.
Apply knowledge of grief and loss and provide appropriate supportive interventions.
Facilitate continuity of care through accurate, timely information exchange with team members and other agencies; communicate regularly about patient status and coordinate care with physicians and others.
Attend and participate in team meetings, briefings, and related activities; provide ongoing communication with hospice team members.
Communicate with pharmacy, durable medical equipment vendors, material management, and insurance companies to help control agency costs.
Document clinical findings, interventions, physician orders, Plan of Care changes, telephone calls, team conferences, and referrals.
Initiate the Plan of Care at time of death and notify appropriate persons and agencies.
Complete discharge paperwork and perform admission, evaluation, and consultative visits as requested.
Work on projects and committees as requested and perform other duties as assigned.
Educate the public regarding end-of-life issues.
Assist with orientation and training of students, new employees, and volunteers.