Hospice Field Registered Nurse Per Visit
: Job Details :

DescriptionDuties and Responsibilities:

Provides skilled services to VNSHS patients as evidenced by:

• Adherence to infection control practices and all agency policies and procedures.
• Utilization of nursing process to eval goals (physical/psychosocial and environmental assessment, diagnosis, plan, implementation, evaluation).

• Notifies and collaborates with the home care physician and maintains physician orders.
• Is knowledgeable regarding the Hospice Medicare Benefit.
• Functions as part of the Interdisciplinary Team and refers to other team members as needed to ensure the physical, emotional, and spiritual well being of the terminally ill.
• Is knowledgeable with the medications used at end of life for pain and symptom management.
• Assesses patient needs related to end of life and communicates with primary MD or Hospice medical staff when there are changes in patient's medical condition. Advocates for patients comfort needs.

• Is kind and compassionate when communicating and caring for patients and their families.
• Maintains compliance with Narcotic distribution, administration and disposal in accordance with Department of Health and VNSHS policy.
• Documents with accuracy and completeness consistent with Medicare guidelines that demonstrate measurable outcomes.
• Under the direction of the Clinical Manager/DPS assist with the orientation of new staff and students when needed.
• Covers weekends and Holidays as assigned based on the needs of the agency.

• Notifies and collaborates with the Hospice House NP/MD and maintains physician orders.

Provides case-management oversight when assigned and maintains schedule, as evidenced by:

• Identifies patient centered goals and an interdisciplinary team approach to meet these goals, under the direction of the home care physician/in-patient NP/MD, with the most efficient use of resources and avoidance of re-hospitalization.
• Appropriately projects, prioritizes and delegates patient visits for the coming week.
• Updates visit schedule by 8:30 each weekday morning and communicates with administrative staff in a timely manner regarding any changes in their schedule.

Participates in IDG meetings and demonstrates effective and timely communication as

evidence by:

• Attendance in weekly meetings.
• Interacts and is prepared to discuss and document the case load to include patient's reason for hospice care and progress towards patient centered goals. Any symptoms or medication changes that have occurred since last review. Discusses/documents effectiveness of all disciplines and frequency of discipline visits. follows up on interdisciplinary group recommendations.
• Effective use of voice mail and e-mail.

Demonstrates timely documentation as evidenced by:

• Use of the computer in the home if applicable.
• Notes are available for review within 24 hours of visit; re-visit notes locked for processing within 24hours of visit, and timely discharges and transfers.
• Completion of HHA supervisions within 14 days and prn
• Clear documentation of the patient's progress towards goals and response to interventions.

• promptly responds to corrections as needed.
• Provides mandated federal and state notices to patients to include, but not limited to, NYS Provision of Care, Home Health Beneficiary notice and Notice of Medicare non-coverage.

The RN is available to work at least one weekend per month and up to three holidays or holiday weekends per year.

Demonstrates commitment to her team and VNSHS as evidenced by:

• Supports and promotes the mission of VNSHS .

• Represents the agency in a professional manner and follows the uniform policy
• Flexibility in scheduling with a focus on meeting patient needs.
• Participation in continuing education (minimum of 3 hours per calendar year), attending annual competency and all mandatory in-services.
• Attendance at team meetings.

Employee adheres to all applicable federal, state, local laws and regulations.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• New York State license and current registration as a registered nurse.
• Able to comply with the New York State regulatory requirements to provide patient care

• Able to comply with all VNSHS policies, procedures and standards of conduct.
• Minimum of 1 year experience in acute care setting.
• Minimum of three months of home health experience. Consideration of other experience and education preparation will be at the discretion of the Hospice Clinical Manager.
• Flexible and able to work well with others as well as function autonomously

Physical/Cognitive Requirements:

• Physical agility in the form of being able to ambulate, drive a motor vehicle, and negotiate stairs. Vision acuity correctable to normal with normal color perception. Hearing acuity correctable to normal. Acute sense of smell for normal perception. Ability to verbalize so that the average person can comprehend.