DUTIES

To provide nursing care in accordance with the consumer's plan of care to include comprehensive health and psychosocial evaluation, monitoring of the consumer’s condition, health promotion and prevention coordination of services, teaching and training activities and direct nursing care

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Coordinates total consumer care by conducting comprehensive health and psychosocial evaluation, monitoring the consumer's condition, promoting sound preventive practices, coordinating services and teaching and training activities
2. Evaluates the effectiveness of nursing service to the consumer and family on an ongoing basis
3. Performs admission, transfer, re-certification, resumption of care and discharge paperwork for the home care consumer.
4. Prepares and presents consumer's record to the Clinical Record Review Committee as indicated
5. Consults with the attending physician concerning alterations of Consumer Care Plans, checks with the appropriate supervisor and makes changes, as appropriate
6. Coordinates consumer services
7. Submits clinical notes no less often than weekly, and progress notes and other clinical record forms outlining the services rendered as indicated
8. Submits a tally of consumer care visits made each day
9. Participates in case conferences, discusses with the supervisor problems concerning the consumers and how they may best be handled
10. Discusses with the appropriate supervisor the need for the involvement of other members of the health team
11. Obtains orders for paraprofessional service and submits a referral to the appropriate personnel
12. Participates in the consumer’s discharge planning process
13. Cooperates with other agencies providing nursing or related services to provide continuity of care and to implement a comprehensive care plan
14. Participates in staff development meeting
15. Continually strives to improve his/her nursing care skills by attending in-service education, through formal education, attendance at workshops, conferences, active participation in professional and related organizations and individual research and reading
16. Participates in the development and periodic revision of the physician's Plan of Treatment and processes change orders as needed
17. Submits clinical notes per agency policy, and progress notes and other clinical record forms outlining the services rendered
18. Participates in the consumer’s discharge planning process
19. Maintains an on-going knowledge of current drug therapy
20. Adheres to Federal and state requirements
21. May be requested by Nursing Supervisor to fill in for the other nurses

COORDINATES THE ADMISSION OF A CONSUMER TO THE AGENCY

1. Conducts an initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment of the consumer’s needs at appropriate time frames
2. Obtains a medical history from the consumer and/or a family member particularly as it relates to the present condition
3. Conducts a physical examination of the consumer, including vital signs, physical assessment, mental status, appetite and type of diet, etc.
4. Evaluates the consumer, family member(s) and home situation to determine what health teaching will be required
5. Evaluates the consumer's environment to determine what assistance will be available from family members in caring for the consumer
6. Evaluates the consumer's condition and home situation to determine if the services of a Nurse Aide will be required and the frequency of this service
7. Explains nursing and other Agency services to consumers and families as a part of planning for care
8. Develops and implements the nursing care plan
9. May be requested by the Nursing Supervisor to fill in for other nurses who are on vacation or sick.

PROVIDES SKILLED NURSING CARE AS OUTLINED IN THE NURSING CARE PLAN

1. Nursing services, treatments and preventative procedures requiring substantial specialized skill and ordered by the physician
2. The initiation of preventative and rehabilitative nursing procedures as appropriate for the consumer's care and safety
3. Observing signs and symptoms and reporting to the physician reactions to treatments, including drugs, as well as changes in the consumer's physical or emotional condition
4. Teaching, supervising and counseling the consumer and caregivers regarding the nursing care needs and other related problems of the consumer at home

ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE GIVEN BY THE

Certified Nurse Aide

1. Supervises and evaluates the care given by the CNA as per agency policy
2. Submits to the appropriate department/individual a written evaluations of the CNA who are providing service to the consumers in his/her geographical area
3. Participates in periodic conferences with the CNA supervisor concerning the Aide's performance
4. Charts those services rendered to the consumer by the staff nurse and changes that have been noted in the consumer's condition and/or family and home situation, makes revisions in the nursing care plan as needed, records supervisory visits conducted with the CNA, evaluates consumer care and progress and closes charts of discharged consumers
5. Evaluates the effectiveness of her nursing service to the individual and family
6. Consults with the attending physician concerning alteration of the plan of treatment in consultation with the supervisor
7. Submits clinical notes no less often than weekly, and progress notes and other clinical record forms outlining the services rendered as indicated
8. Submits a tally of visits made each day
9. Participates in case conferences
10. Discusses with the supervisor problems concerning the consumers and possible resolution
11. Discusses with the supervisor the need for involvement of other members of the health team
12. Obtains orders for paraprofessional service and submits referral to appropriate personnel
13. Provides guidance and supervision to the LPN and supervises the LPN per agency policy
14. Coordinates total consumer care
15. Cooperates with other agencies providing nursing or related services to provide continuity of care and to implement a comprehensive care plan
16. Participates in staff development meetings
17. Participates in the educational experiences for student nurses
18. Continually strives to improve his/her nursing care by attending in-service education, through formal education, attendance at workshops, conferences, goal setting, active participation in professional and related organizations and individual research and reading
19. Participates in the planning, operation and evaluation of the nursing service
20. Participates in the development and periodic revision of the physician’s Plan of Treatment and processes change orders as needed
21. Participates in the consumer’s discharge planning
22. Maintains an on-going knowledge of current drug therapy
23. Prepares the care plan for the CNA

JOB CONDITIONS

1. Must have a driver’s license and be willing and able to drive to consumer’s residences.
2. The ability to access consumers’ homes which may not be routinely wheelchair accessible is required. Hearing, eyesight and physical dexterity must be sufficient to perform a physical assessment of the consumer's condition and to perform and demonstrate consumer care.
3. Physical activities will include, walking, sitting, stooping, and standing and minimal to maximum lifting of consumers and the turning of consumers.
4. The ability to communicate both verbally and in writing is required as frequent communication by telephone and in writing is involved.

EQUIPMENT OPERATION

Thermometer, B/P cuff, glucometer, penlight, hand washing materials

COMPANY INFORMATION

Has access to all consumer medical records, personnel records and consumer financial accounts which may be discussed with the Nursing Supervisor

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Must be a graduate from an accredited School of Nursing
2. Must be licensed in Colorado as a Registered Nurse
3. One or more years of experience in community/home care agency or in a hospital setting
4. Must have a working knowledge of home care and the principles and techniques of professional nursing and required documentation that pertains to it
5. Should be skillful in organization and in the principles of time management and have knowledge of management processes
6. Must be able to contribute to the quality of care being rendered through constructive communication with nursing managers and staff
7. Must have a criminal background check
8. Must have a current CPR certification