RN Home Care

Columbus Hospice•Columbus, GA

About The Position

The RN Home Care provides individualized nursing care in accordance with hospice philosophies and standards. The role includes educating patients and families, conducting nursing assessments, managing symptoms, and coordinating care with the interdisciplinary team. The nurse maintains a patient caseload and delivers services according to each patient’s plan of care. The position requires ongoing assessment of patients’ and families’ physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs; development and regular updating of nursing and team care plans; symptom and pain management; communication with attending physicians; coordination with hospice staff, volunteers, clergy, and outside organizations; and accurate, timely documentation. The nurse also supports and educates families, participates in interdisciplinary meetings and the hospice call system as assigned, supervises LPNs and CNAs, manages medication counts and refills, and performs death pronouncements according to policy. The position requires 15 continuing education hours each year, at least 12 of which must be hospice-specific. The nurse must protect confidential information, represent Columbus Hospice professionally, follow physician orders and applicable policies and nursing regulations, meet attendance requirements, and perform other duties as assigned. The role may temporarily include Team Manager duties when requested.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school.
One year of related experience.
Valid Alabama and Georgia nursing licenses or a compact license.
Influenza vaccination during influenza season (November through March).
Valid driver’s license.
Satisfactory motor vehicle record and proof of insurance per Columbus Hospice policy.
Dependable personal transportation.
Current BLS CPR certification.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and work with abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to read and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the public.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including occasionally lifting or moving more than 100 pounds and performing home-care duties.
Ability to meet attendance requirements and arrive promptly at work.

Nice To Haves

BSN or MSN; an additional 3% is added to the base rate for a BSN or MSN.
Hospice certification; additional pay is available for hospice certification.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ and families’ needs initially and on an ongoing basis, including physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs, and arrange appropriate follow-up and referrals.
Develop comprehensive nursing and team care plans with the Interdisciplinary Team; update plans weekly and more often as needed.
Examine patients and follow up to promote optimal symptom and pain control.
Keep attending physicians informed of patient status and request appropriate changes in care according to established guidelines.
Coordinate volunteer assignments and support with the Volunteer Coordinator.
Arrange appropriate spiritual support through the patient’s clergy or hospice chaplain.
Provide ongoing information and education to patients and families, including hospice protocols, emergencies, and on-call procedures.
Seek assistance from other team members, agencies, or organizations when appropriate.
Help patients and families prepare for the patient’s death while maintaining hope and encouraging pre-planning.
Encourage family and friends to participate in patient care and provide education and support according to the plan of care.
Record all phases of patient care accurately and promptly, including recertifications and physician orders.
Attend funerals when possible and transition from active family support to bereavement support after the funeral.
Participate constructively in Interdisciplinary Team meetings and in the hospice call system as assigned.
Perform other duties assigned by the Team Manager, including temporarily serving as Team Manager when requested.
Conduct policy-required home supervisory visits for LPNs and CNAs assigned to the nurse’s patients.
Count medications accurately and arrange refills or prescriptions so patients have appropriate medication supplies at home.
Perform death pronouncements according to policy, including medication destruction, and support the family following the patient’s death.
Maintain a patient caseload and provide services according to the plan of care.
Complete 15 continuing education hours annually, including at least 12 hospice-specific hours.
Protect confidential information about patients, staff, and Columbus Hospice operations.
Represent the company professionally and complete responsibilities thoroughly using good judgment.
Seek help from the immediate supervisor when uncertain about a task or job responsibility.
Act on physician orders, assess patients for critical changes using nursing judgment, and implement physician-ordered symptom management protocols.
Consult management about matters not addressed by applicable state nursing practice acts, policies, regulations, or physician orders.
Supervise, direct, and document CNA patient-care activities in patient homes monthly.
Meet attendance requirements and arrive promptly at work.
Assist with special projects and perform other duties as assigned.