Admissions Nurse - Hospice of Santa Cruz County

Proposed Schedule: M-F 9-6

Job Summary

The Admissions Nurse (AN) is a member of the Admissions & Intake team responsible for the appropriate and efficient admission of patients to hospice care. The AN collaborates with the Admissions Manager, Intake Manager, the Clinical Team and the Intake Department to facilitate the referral and admission of hospice patients. The AN has expertise related to hospice eligibility and sign and symptom management related to end of life care. This position works cooperatively across teams to ensure optimal utilization of staffing resources for timely admissions.

Essential Responsibilities

Referral Sources

• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with all referral sources
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with referring physicians
• Provides accurate information regarding the Hospice Medicare Benefit including covered hospice services & funding.
• Communicates with patients, families, and co-workers in a professional and sensitive manner
• Understand hospice eligibility, local coverage determinations, and can assesses for hospice appropriateness related to prognosis and philosophical alignment
• Represents admissions at agency meetings as requested
• Obtains documentation supporting prognosis of < 6 months ensuring inclusion in the patient's electronic medical record (EMR).
• Determines patient needs & coordinates care appropriately. This can include transportation, delivery of equipment (DME), supplies and medications required to initiate hospice care.
• Confers with Admissions Manager, Director of Nursing or Chief Clinical Officer for potential risk factors that may delay an admission or ongoing service.
• Confers with Intake Staff regarding admission scheduling and assignment
• Meets department standards for timely admission

Information/Admission Visits

• Meets with patients & families in all settings to explain services, answer questions and admit patient as appropriate
• Completes evaluation and admission assessments
• Meets with patients & families to discuss difficult treatment and/or symptom management issues to facilitate the admission process
• Develops an individualized, interdisciplinary Plans of Care for patients and families
• Knows how to present the Hospice Medicare benefit to patients and families. for effective use of time and resources
• Uses electronic medical record (EMR) systems effectively and efficiently to complete required documentation in a variety of patient care settings
• Introduces the use of electronic charting to patients and families and sets the stage for an effective interaction, building patient/family comfort and confidence with the EMR.
• Completes informational visits, admission visits and documentation per HSCC standards

Patient Care

• Co-manages patients admitted to service in active decline as needed
• Assists in the provision of case-management & nursing care to support patients as needed
• Demonstrates knowledge of all levels of care including the General Inpatient level of care, HSCC's standard of practice, and assists in the provision of GIP care as needed.

Systems

• Participates in the development and maintenance of systems for improving department operations and analysis as directed by Admissions Manager.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned by Supervisor

Compliance

• Ensures all HIPAA Privacy and Security Regulations, Medicare Conditions of Participation, and all other regulatory/compliance requirements are understood and followed
• Submits verification of current RN license
• Submits proof of auto insurance annually; keeps drivers license current and maintains a good driving record
• Ensures TB checks are completed in a timely manner; at least annually

Requirements

Education/Experience

• Degree in Nursing from an accredited college
• Minimum of 3 years experience as an RN
• 1 year minimum of Acute care experience
• Hospice and/or home health experience preferred
• End-of-life and pain management experience preferred
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred

Skills Required

• Critical thinking and ability to function both independently and as a member of the Admissions team
• Competence using electronic medical records programs
• Ability to build and maintain strong supportive relationships with referral accounts, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Knowledge of Hospice eligibility requirements preferred

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

• Active California RN License
• Current California Driver's License
• Certification as Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) preferred
• ELNEC training preferred
• Pass OIG/GSA review and all required background checks

Physical Demands

• Ability to provide patient care that involves assisting with lifting, repositioning, moving patients and includes bending, reaching and twisting
• Ability to travel to patient locations; includes ability to drive, negotiate stairs and walkways including uneven surfaces at private homes or facilities
• Sufficient dexterity to utilize electronic record keeping systems, computers/keyboards and or laptops and other related equipment
• Vision ability to assess patient's health status using visual inspection and observation and to read medications, charts, calibration and monitoring devices
• Speech to verbally communicate to assess and impart information concerning patient status; to complete patient/family teaching and to interact with health care team
• Sensory ability to monitor, assess and address patient care needs

Work Environment/Environmental Condition

• Performs services in private homes and care facilities and will experience a variety of settings and situations
• Office work is performed in typical office setting