Hospice House RN Days

Wage rate is determined by education (BSN) and number of years as a licensed RN

Additional 3% added to base rate for BSN or MSN.

Additional pay for Hospice certification, shift differential and charge nurse.

Essential Functions

Provide individualized nursing care in accordance with Hospice philosophies and standards; provide education to patients and families; conduct ongoing assessments throughout shift to effectively provide symptom management; count and accurately administer medications. Takes all reasonable precautions to maintain privacy and nondisclosure of any confidential information about patients, other staff members, and the general operations of Columbus Hospice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct

• Supervise and direct patient care activities for the CNAs, ensure that all assigned duties are completed.
• If assigned as Charge Nurse, directly supervise nurses and CNAs in patient care.
• If immediate personnel action is required, the Charge Nurse has authority to initiate disciplinary actions pending review from Nurse Manager.

Challenges in Position

• 12 hour shifts with 30-minute meal break on-site; weekend shifts required; holiday shifts required; work flexible work schedules.
• On feet many hours, moving rapidly, evaluating situations as they occur, prioritizing and coordinating patient care activities to meet the needs of the patients.
• Effectively handle high anxiety and emotions of patients and families, dealing with grief, death and dying on a daily basis.

Decision Making Latitude

Individual Decision Making Parameters

• Act on physician’s orders; use nursing judgment to assess PT’s for critical changes, medication administration.

In Collaboration with Management

• Anything not currently defined by the Nurse Practice Act, policies and procedures, state license regulations, or physician orders.

Qualification Requirements

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with professionalism and mutual respect for all.
• The requirements in this job description are representative of knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

Required:

• Associate's degree from two-year college or technical school
• One-year experience or training

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, Vaccines

Required:

• Influenza vaccine during influenza season (Nov. – March)
• Valid Georgia Registered Nurse License or multi-state compact license
• CPR Certification

Preferred:

• Valid Driver’s License preferred
• Car Insurance per Columbus Hospice policy
• Hospice and Palliative Care RN certification preferred

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to professional students, medical students, employees, families and patients, and external customers.

Position Requirements (not all-inclusive)

• Provide individualized patient care to include the following:
• Assessment of: Patient- Both initial and ongoing, and of patient and family needs to include physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• Accurate administration of medications; orders medications appropriately; counts controlled medications at shift change.
• Develop a comprehensive nursing and team care plan in conference with the other members of the Interdisciplinary Team; updating the care plan weekly or more frequently if needed.
• Seek optimal symptom and pain control for the patients through attentive and thorough examination and follow up.
• Keep the attending physician apprised of patient’s status and request appropriate changes in care in accordance with established guidelines.
• Coordinate with the Volunteer Coordinator in assigning, directing, and supporting volunteers.
• Seek appropriate spiritual support for the patient/family through patient’s personal clergy or hospice chaplain.
• Provide necessary on-going information, and teaching to the patient/family including hospice protocol,emergencies, and on-call procedures.
• Solicit help from other members of the team as well as other agencies or organizations as appropriate.
• Help patient/family to prepare for the death of the patient; maintain hope; encourage pre-planning.
• Encourage family to actively participate in the patient’s care. Explain the need to destroy drugs after death occurs.
• Support the family and volunteers with closure through the death process.
• Accurate and timely recording of all phases of the patient’s care to include re-certification and physician’s orders.
• Participate in weekly IDTM meetings: to include documenting on IDTM sheets any changes or problems.
• Supervise LPNs, CNAs; in absence of managers supervise Team Assistants, Housekeeping, and Dietary.
• Will participate in shift report for continuity of care; reporting pertinent changes and patient information to the oncoming shift.
• Will assume Charge Nurse role as assigned:
• Coordinates patient care by making staff assignments for RNs and CNAs.
• Available to direct, advise and support staff in patient care decisions related to the plan of care and hospice philosophy.
• Make rounds on all patients a minimum of two (2) times during the 12-hour shift.
• Communicate with staff throughout the shift for updates on special patient issues or concerns.
• In absence of Nurse Manager, coordinate admissions and discharges.
• Communicate with Administrator on Call regarding problems or concerns that occur on the weekend and cannot wait until the next business day.
• Assign CNA duties and ensures compliance.
• Effectively oversee staff productivity in absence of Nurse Manager. Assigns extra tasks such as cleaning/organizing medication room: cleaning kitchen cabinets/drawers; cleaning break room, reading education articles from the Education Notebook; etc.
• Assure that staff follows the rules and policies of the hospice house.
• Coordinate coverage on unit to ensure that all staff receives a meal break.
• After-hours charge nurse is responsible for security of building: making sure all doors in hallways, kitchen and patient rooms are locked.
• Direct fire drills and actual emergencies. Make sure that all staff knows what steps to take for patient safety.
• Maintain a patient caseload and provides services per plan of care.
• Participate in hospice training as required, to include 15 hours of CEUs/year and competency check per policy.
• Attend and/or participate in one Memorial Service per year
• Participate in performance improvement activities
• Participate in Joint Commission accreditation processes of Columbus Hospice and surveys by regulatory and other accrediting agencies
• Attend mandatory in-service education and staff meetings.
• Take all reasonable precautions to maintain privacy and non-disclosure of any confidential information about patients, other staff members, and the general operations of Columbus Hospice.
• Represent the company in a positive and professional manner at all times with others, e.g.,co-workers, management, vendors, and customers.
• Complete all job responsibilities in a thorough and complete manner, utilizing good judgment in all aspects of the job.
• When unsure of a directed task or any part of job responsibilities, proactively seek the assistance of immediate supervisor.
• Ensure job responsibilities are met, including attendance requirements and prompt arrival at work.
• Assist with special projects, as requested.
• All other job duties as may be assigned.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, risk of electrical shock, explosives, and risk of radiation. Potential exposure to variable environments, cigarette smoke, and pets. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.