Registered Nurse For Hospice Services

CHSGa•Augusta, GA

13d

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 a patient and family caseload through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation, coordinating with physicians, the Interdisciplinary Group, other Hospice staff, and outside agencies as needed. The role includes assessing patients within 48 hours of admission order and collaborating toward completion of a comprehensive assessment within five calendar days of hospice election. The nurse develops and updates plans of care, maintains accurate records, provides nursing care focused on pain control and symptom management, and teaches and supports patients and families through the terminal illness and dying process. The nurse also supervises Certified Nursing Assistant plans of care, participates in interdisciplinary and staff meetings, provides support at death and during bereavement, and shares in 24-hour, seven-day coverage. The position requires familiarity with Hospice policies and applicable state and federal regulations, professional communication, and collaboration across the System.

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 acute-care RN experience before a home-care assignment, or experience as required by state regulations.
Hold current CPR certification.
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 following Hospice policies and procedures on an ongoing basis.
Extensive knowledge of healthcare and long-term care organizations and their structures.
Ability to communicate and present information clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, department heads, administrators, member organization presidents and leadership teams, and the public.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Manage a Hospice Services patient and family caseload through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care.
Coordinate patient and family care and use of resources with attending physicians, Hospice staff, and other Hospice agencies.
Assess patients within 48 hours of the admission order and collaborate toward a comprehensive assessment within five calendar days of hospice election.
Communicate regularly with the Patient Care Manager and attending physicians about the patient and family caseload.
Collect information about physical, psychological, social, and spiritual factors affecting patient and family health and incorporate it into the plan of care.
Maintain current patient records that clearly document problems, plans, actions, goals, and changes.
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 the terminal condition.
Guide patients and families in preparing for and coping with anticipated physical and psychological events during the dying process.
Document observations, interventions, evaluations, and services on the day they are provided, and submit documentation in a timely manner.
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 supervision; observe care onsite when concerns arise and report ongoing concerns to the Director of Hospice Services.
Inform the Director of Hospice Services about unusual or potentially problematic patient and family issues.
Provide associate nurse coverage for other primary nurses 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 appropriate support at the time of death and during bereavement.
Participate in Hospice Services orientation and staff in-service training.
Participate in Hospice Services and community programs as requested.
Follow Hospice policies and applicable state and federal regulations governing hospice care, and support policies regarding patient and family care.
Promote the System’s image and reputation through servant leadership and open communication.
Contribute to committees, workgroups, project management, and other collaborative System efforts.
Perform other duties as necessary to ensure the success of the System.