RN Home Care Exempt

VITAS Healthcare•Cincinnati, OH

About The Position

The RN Home Care provides hospice nursing care and case management in accordance with VITAS policies, standards, the RN’s scope of practice, and each patient’s individualized plan of care. The role includes comprehensive patient assessments; care coordination; appropriate delegation and supervision of nursing tasks; patient and family education; documentation; and participation in team, quality improvement, bereavement, and professional development activities. The RN provides visits and shifts within the program coverage area and participates in on-call coverage or non-business-hour shifts as program needs require.

Requirements

Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) in the state where the VITAS program is located.
At least two years of experience in hospice, home health, or community health within the last five years.

Responsibilities

Follow VITAS policies and standards and practice within the scope of the RN license; report requests to practice outside that scope to the manager or supervisor.
Supervise nursing tasks delegated to Hospice Aides, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, contracted Registered Nurses, and Volunteers in accordance with the plan of care.
Complete initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments, including physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement assessments.
Identify and use appropriate resources and referrals, including PT, OT, Home Health, Dietary, Pharmacy, supplies, Home Medical Equipment, and other visits or consults.
Complete documentation at the time of the event and at the location of care unless otherwise directed.
Educate patients, families, caregivers, and referral sources.
Participate in patient care meetings as assigned and weekly team meetings.
Communicate effectively through written and verbal communication, reporting, and body language, including shift reports.
Participate in bereavement support.
Participate in the on-call rotation and/or provide shifts during non-business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on program needs.
Provide visits and shifts within the program coverage area.
Develop, coordinate, and follow each patient’s individualized plan of care.
Delegate nursing tasks appropriately to Hospice Aides/Homemakers, Volunteers, and Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses; assess patient safety factors and the competence of the Hospice Aide/Homemaker, and determine whether delegation is safe.
For Connecticut, document in the clinical record the required determinations for activities delegated to a Hospice Aide/Homemaker other than those listed in section 19-13D69(d)(3) of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
Provide nursing care, including nursing tasks that may be delegated to LPNs, HHAs, and Volunteers.
Participate in and monitor patient and family care compliance activities.
Professionally manage and coordinate the hospice plan of care.
Follow infection control practices and deliver care in accordance with the patient’s plan of care.
Provide primary nursing care for inpatient and continuous care patients as assigned.
Participate in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Program and related activities, which may include Performance Improvement Projects and gathering clinical data used for quality measures.
Develop and achieve professional growth goals and objectives personally and as established through Team Manager reviews.
Attend orientation and regularly scheduled in-services or educational conferences as assigned.
Participate in orientation of Hospice Aides, Volunteers, and other IDG members as assigned.
Participate in internal VITAS and external training activities as assigned.
Maintain focus on the patient and family experience of care and serve as a patient and family advocate.
Report patient, family, or customer complaints to the Team Manager and participate in conflict resolution as applicable.
Represent the nursing profession, the VITAS site/location, and VITAS positively.