RN Home Health

Covenant Health•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing care to an assigned group of homebound patients and coordinates care planning with other disciplines. The RN reviews patient records, determines home care needs, completes OASIS assessments at appropriate time points, develops and revises care and discharge plans, coordinates referrals, and participates in interdisciplinary case conferences. The nurse performs and documents comprehensive assessments and a range of clinical procedures, including feeding-tube care, intravenous procedures, central-line access, colostomy and tracheostomy care, suctioning, medication administration, PICC-line care, and use of specified medical equipment. The RN initiates preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures, reassesses patient needs, serves as a liaison among physicians, patients, and families, and communicates changes in patient needs and orders. The role includes timely documentation, compliance with Medicare guidelines and agency policies, patient and family education, promoting independence, coordinating admissions and discharges, infection-control practices, and supervising LPNs and Home Health Aides. The nurse may act as case manager for an assigned caseload, checks schedules and calls patients with arrival times, assists with new-employee orientation, completes annual education and skills requirements, and participates in quality improvement. Local travel is required. Covenant Health HomeCare and Hospice is part of Covenant Health, a nonprofit health system. The posting describes the organization as the area’s largest locally owned home health and hospice provider and notes that Covenant Health offers employees benefits including tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, certification bonuses, and leadership development programs.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
At least one year of professional experience in a hospital or prior home health experience.
Must hold and maintain a State of Tennessee RN license.
CPR certification is required.
Must have a valid Tennessee Class D driver's license and state-mandated minimum insurance coverage.
Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at hire and throughout employment.

Responsibilities

Review patient records and determine home care needs, including completing OASIS assessments at appropriate time points.
Develop and revise care and discharge plans; coordinate referrals and participate in interdisciplinary case conferences.
Perform and document cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, gastrointestinal, skin, intake and output, and pain assessments.
Perform feeding-tube procedures and care, including insertion or replacement of tubes, medication administration through feeding tubes, patient and caregiver instruction, and care involving bolus feeding or an enteral pump.
Perform intravenous procedures, including peripheral IV insertion, maintaining infusion rates, labeling and changing tubing, venipuncture, and accessing central lines.
Provide colostomy care, tracheostomy care, and suctioning.
Administer IM, subcutaneous, IV-push, and IV-piggyback medications according to policy; check allergies and physician orders, and document medication administration.
Use and maintain equipment such as infusion pumps, ventilators, and manual resuscitators; demonstrate competency in declotting VADs in the home.
Remove and provide care for PICC lines.
Initiate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures and regularly reevaluate patient needs.
Act as a liaison between physicians and patients or families; communicate changes in patient needs and physician orders, and send orders for physician signature in a timely manner.
Prepare and submit daily documentation, including physician contacts, contact notes, and mileage.
Follow Medicare guidelines and Covenant HomeCare policies, including admission, discharge, on-call, death, safety, and infection-control procedures.
Educate and counsel patients and families about disease processes, self-care, and prevention strategies; promote patient and family independence.
Check schedules and call patients to provide arrival times.
Supervise LPNs and Home Health Aides providing services and assist in orienting new employees.
Demonstrate competency in age-specific care and complete the annual skills checklist.
Act as case manager when assigned by the Clinical Supervisor and coordinate care for the assigned caseload.
Complete required annual education, work toward goals and objectives, and participate in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.