Registered Nurse Home Care

Description:

POSITION: Registered Nurse/Home Care

REPORTS TO: Nurse Team Leader

FLSA STATUS: o exempt o non-exempt

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provide direct patient care to Hospice patients in the home setting and supervise home health aide services

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current NC license as a registered nurse
• Active patient contact or completion of a nursing refresher course within the past 3 years
• CPR certification

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of and commitment to the hospice philosophy of care
• Ability to work on an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
• Willingness to work with patients/families regardless of race, color, creed, age, or sexual orientation. Must respect their beliefs and philosophy with an attitude of openness and receptiveness

Requirements:

TRAINING-Initial And Ongoing:

• Complete Hospice volunteer/staff training program
• Complete Hospice orientation program
• Obtain 12 hours of continuing education per year, including mandatory safety in-service
• Attend minimum of six staff meetings per year
• Attend assigned team meetings every two weeks
• Maintain CPR certification

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in orienting new team members, as requested
• Participate in quality improvement program
• Adhere to strict confidentiality
• Adhere to safety policy and practices
• Complete employee time record accurately per policy
• Cooperate with all government agencies and outside auditors
• Assist with updating policies and procedures, as appropriate
• Complete annual TB screening
• Assure all license, certifications, continuing education information and any other required documentation are submitted to human resources and kept current
• Maintain up-to-date documentation required and specified in Hospice policy and procedure
• Perform other duties assigned by supervisor
• Evaluate physical needs of the patient
• Coordinate medication administration, education and assure accuracy
• Evaluate the need for other services
• Communicate patient/family information to the interdisciplinary team
• Coordinate the development of the plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and the hospice team, updating every 14 days and as changes occur
• Provide nursing services according to the plan of care
• Make referral to other services as needed in coordination with the medical social worker
• Supervision of home health aide
• Teach the primary caregiver, sitter, and home health aide by role model, repetition, and reinforcement
• Provide ongoing supervision along with assessment of continuing needs for patient/family teaching
• Instruct caregiver in emergency response and anticipate change
• Make regular visits as ordered by the physician and as needed
• Provide the patient/family with information concerning the disease process, the regimen of treatment process, and alternative methods of care
• Respond to questions honestly and realistically
• Help the patient/family make informed choices
• Promote independence and responsibility throughout the course of the disease
• Provide emotional support
• Actively listen to patient and family concerns
• Support individual coping mechanisms
• Provide services at the time of death
• Assist with bereavement follow-up attending receivings or funeral services as appropriate
• Evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions on a regular basis and whenever changes occur in the patient/family situation
• Communicate with physician, orally, or by letter, after the initial home visit and as needed and required by regulations
• Maintain current knowledge and competency in providing care to terminally ill patients and their families
• Assist with nursing care on patient care unit as directed by supervisor
• Assist with assessing patient appropriateness for continued services
• Assist with palliative care patients as needed

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Speech and hearing skills necessary for telephone interaction and face to face contact
• Visual acuity to read chart and physician's orders
• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time
• Manual dexterity to establish IV sites, manipulate tubing, and other patient care supplies
• With assistance, ability to lift and support an average of 150 pounds
• Ability to sit as required to perform duties
• Ability to pull/push, and bend frequently
• Ability to squat, kneel, climb, and balance

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have an automobile with required insurance coverage and state driver's license

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