Hospice RN - HCI VNS Care Services

Purpose:

Responsible for identifying and coordinating care for terminally ill patients and their families in homes, skilled nursing facilities or residential care facilities. Frequency of patient/family contacts will be at the discretion of the RN who is the patient case manager responsible for leadership and oversight of the entire interdisciplinary plan of care. The RN endeavors to utilize teaching, assessment and intervention sills to provide comfort care and maximize the quality of life for patients and families.

Responsibilities:

• Assesses patient/family needs, aware of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects and gathers data on social, economic and cultural factors which may influence health, well-being and quality of life at all stages of care from referral to post death. 
• Assists patients, family members and all contacts according to the general performance standards, demonstrating organizational values with all interactions. 
• Provides direct care to patients with in the RN scope of practice and consistent with organizational, professional and industry standards. 
• Evaluates and performs ongoing assessments and revises written plan of care with Interdisciplinary collaboration as the needs and conditions of the patient/family changes.
• Authorizes, coordinates and supervises care, as prescribed in the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care, with all team members and contracted vendors in order to meet the needs of the patient.
• Attends and participates in IDG meetings as defined by the patient needs.
• Documents accurate and ongoing patient information, with in the patient medical record. All documentation is complete according to organizational, and professional standards. All documentation is completed as it occurs. Documentation includes but is not limited to: patient assessments, needs and goals, interventions, patient’s response to care, patient/family teaching, and all communications regarding the patient.
• Able to perform all required clinical skills as defined in orientation and utilize procedure manual for all procedures. 
• Participates in agency’s on-call rotation as prescribed by the needs of the agency to provide nursing services to clients when required outside of office hours.
• Takes part, when possible, to meet a patient/family’s need for continuous care in time of crisis.
• Coordinates community resources and other agency disciplines participating in patient care.
• Minimizes non-productive time and slow periods with activities to prepare to meet the future needs of the agency.
• Leads, supervises and maintains ongoing effective communication with other hospice personnel involved with patient care. This may involve formal and informal meetings outside of IDG.
• Participates in hospice and community health programs as required to promote the growth and understanding of the hospice philosophy, including but not limited to, hospice education presentations.
• Establishes hospice aide plan of care and directly supervises the care provided by hospice aides per regulations.
• Actively participates in team meetings, committees and quality improvement planning and processes.
• Ability to obtain Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) within 24-36 months of employment if full-time or part-time status.

Qualifications:

• Current and valid Iowa RN license 
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Home health/hospice experience highly desirable
• Minimum of one year professional nursing experience preferred
• Strong keyboarding and computer skills with the ability to learn work-related software
• Current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider certification
• Mandatory Reporter of Child and Dependent Adult abuse training certification (within 30 days of hire)
• Must have valid driver's license, auto liability insurance and reliable transportation if driving is required
• Successful completion of pre-employment physical, drug screen, 2-step TB test and background check

Working Conditions:

• Physical requirements: Medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Physical activities: bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling, fingering and gripping and reaching
• Environment: Hazards (chemicals, infectious diseases), Atmospheric conditions (fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases)
• Travel: Required between locations
• Time: Work hours based on patient-driven census model

These characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. You may be required to perform other duties to meet the on-going needs of the organization.

HCI Care Services and VNS of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. Employment practices are implemented without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, genetic information or on the basis of age or physical or mental disability unrelated to ability to perform the work required.