Job Summary:

The Home Health & Hospice Nurse plans, organizes and directs home care and hospice services and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The Home Health & Hospice Nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

A. PATIENT CARE

• Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Regularly re-evaluates patient nursing needs.
• Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a care plan, which establishes goals based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician. Provides direct patient care as defined in the State Nurse Practice Act.
• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan of care.
• Identifies discharge planning needs as part of the care plan development and implements prior to discharge of the patient.
• Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Nurse Manager and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

B. COMMUNICATION

• Prepares clinical notes and updates the primary physician when necessary and at least every 60 days.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports any changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physician’s orders as required.

C. ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Participates in on-call and holiday duties.
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care provided in accordance with state and federal regulations.

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Position Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. One (1) to two (2) years of acute care experience in an institutional setting preferred.
• Current licensure in state and CPR certification.
• Complies with acceptable professional standards and practice.
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Prolonged or considerable walking or standing. Able to lift, position or transfer patients. Able to lift supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling or crouching. Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• May occasionally be in a position to lift and/or carry an item weighing up to 50 pounds
• Licensed driver with automobile that is in good working order and insured in accordance with the organization requirements.
• Requires knowledge of potential exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.
• Requires working under stress in emergency situations during irregular hours.