RN - Palliative Care

Torrance Memorial Medical Center•Torrance, CA

8h•$49 - $72

About The Position

The RN Care Manager delivers compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals and caregivers facing serious illness. This role requires knowledge of primary and specialty palliative care, with a focus on understanding the complex and unique needs of patients and caregivers while navigating a serious diagnosis or disease progression. The RN is responsible for assessing, implementing, and evaluating care plans and works closely with the patient, caregiver, and the interdisciplinary team to ensure that the plan of care aligns with the patient’s healthcare goals. The RN also performs clinical assessments, medical interventions, and education within the scope of the nursing practice and with oversight from the supervising provider. The RN also assists in symptom management, advance care planning, decision-making, and end-of-life care.

Requirements

A valid California RN license
Valid California Driver’s License
BCLS or ACLS Certification
2 years of experience as an RN working with adult and geriatric patients and caregivers in a health care setting, preferably in the hospital, home health. or hospice setting
Hospice and Palliative Care Certification or obtain within 2 years of hire date.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong organization and planning skills
Flexible in a rapidly growing program, self-motivated, and willing to learn

Responsibilities

Screens and assigns new palliative care referrals to the appropriate palliative care site, concurrently coordinating appointment scheduling and care with the patient/caregiver and the referral source.
Conducts in-person visits to the patient’s residential site which may be at home, residential facilities (assisted living facilities, independent living communities, board and care), and skilled nursing facilities.
Collects relevant data on the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual care needs of the patient and the caregiver to determine impact on quality of life
Completes thorough medication reconciliation and communicates changes to the provider
Effectively triages phone calls and clinical inquiries from patients, families, and caregivers, offers nursing advice and interventions within the scope of license, and report any updates, changes in condition, and follow-up
Provides direct patient care in various healthcare settings that may include acute care, skilled nursing facilities, homes, residential facilities etc
Identify & triage urgent and emergent patient issues and appropriately report acute changes in condition to the appropriate interdisciplinary care team member or provider
Collaborates consistently and effectively with patients, families, caregivers and the interdisciplinary team to develop a plan of care consistent with patient’s healthcare goals
Manages pain and other symptoms and demonstrates knowledge of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies, pain management principles, and medication side effects
Identifies caregiver stress and burden, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on how to best meet needs
Documents all aspects of the nursing and communication processes in a timely manner
Carries out provider orders, assisting with prior authorization, communicating with pharmacies, vendor companies, and outside community agencies
Performs timely follow-up on patient-related, time-sensitive tasks such as prescription refills, DME orders, imaging, laboratory tests and other reports pertinent to current needs
Perform timely post ED or hospitalization check-ins and report any changes in care
Provides complete and timely handoff report to interdisciplinary team and other department to ensure effective continuity or care
Familiar with home health and hospice eligibility criteria and collaborate closely with other departments such as home health, hospice, inpatient/outpatient case management, community providers (MD/DO/NP/PA), rehabilitation and others.
Attends and contributes to weekly interdisciplinary rounds