Description

ROLE:

To provide quality, compassionate care to patients and families by providing holistic care to alleviate end-of-life symptoms, provide education on disease trajectory and aggressive support in the home, patient care units and community nursing facilities.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Be available and respond back to communication within 15 minutes
• Assess each patient and family situation for severity and respond appropriately
• Communicate with team members and patient care unit staff on a regular basis
• Evaluate the physical, financial, psychological, spiritual and pre-bereavement needs of the patient/family in coordination with interdisciplinary team
• Determine patient’s eligibility for hospice care with AMOREM providers, admit if appropriate.
• If patient is not appropriate, recommend other services available, with referrals to other community agencies, as appropriate
• Educate patients and family about services
• Coordinate the development of the plan of care with goals defined by the patient/family and the hospice team updating as changes occur
• Coordinate medication administration, education and assure accuracy
• Communicate patient/family information to the interdisciplinary team
• Update the plan of care as patient condition changes
• Provide nursing services according to the plan of care
• Evaluate the need for other services and make a referral as needed in coordination with the social workers
• Teach the primary caregiver/family by role model, repetition and reinforcement
• Provide ongoing supervision along with assessment of continuing needs for patient/family teaching
• Instruct caregiver in hospice emergency responses and changes to anticipate
• Make visits as indicated 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 by attending receiving 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 physicians as needed and as 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
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• 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.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a supervisory role
• Strong communication skills

Education

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

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

Experience

• Minimum of two to three years nursing experience required

Licensures & Certifications: (if applicable):

• CPR certification

Physical Demands

• Visual acuity to read written documentation and computer tasks
• Ability to sit extended periods of time and perform administrative tasks
• Ability to stand, bend and lift an average of 30 pounds
• Manual dexterity with the ability to manipulate office equipment and keyboard for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk, squat, kneel, climb and balance