Responsibilities

Under general direction of the Hospice Supervisor, the Home Hospice Registered Nurse utilizes nursing process to determine initial and ongoing needs of Hospice patient and provides primary nursing care and coordinates care provided by other team members. The Hospice RN understands and employs professional nursing skills consistent with standards of the Nurse Practice Act of Pennsylvania and Hospice policies and procedures. Demonstrates competent knowledge and skills to ensure care is appropriate to patients served: infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics.

Essential Functions:

• Possesses and practices appropriate physical skills, including assessment of the infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient, as well as the family and home situation.
• Makes initial comprehensive assessment visit, develops and confirms HPOC, and regularly reevaluates patient's nursing needs.
• Prioritizes patient's problems or needs according to urgency to reflect the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of care of the patient. Coordinates Hospice program services offered to patients and provides clinical supervision to ensure comprehensive care is delivered.
• Acts as a case manager to coordinate all home care services. Supervises Hospice Aides according to home care standards.
• Clarifies and implements physician orders and nursing care plan according to established standards.
• Possesses a working knowledge of medications, educates the patient/patient's family appropriately and documents said education.
• Develops and revises an individualized plan of care and sets mutually acceptable goals with patient/patient's family.
• Documents according to established policies and processes using the EMR.
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Meets or exceeds productivity standards and participates in on-call coverage according to the needs of the department.
• Performs IV and phlebotomy functions as necessary.
• Works as a member of a multidisciplinary team.