On-Call Registered Nurse – Hospice
The On-Call registered nurse provides home health care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to provide services to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES
- Completes initial, comprehensive, and ongoing assessments of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illnesses.
- Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process.
- Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by:
- Contributes to the plan of care.
- Participates in revising the plan of care as necessary.
- Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
- Contributes to the care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative 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 in the physician’s plan of care.
- Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
- Adhering to the organization’s documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct.
- Provides healthcare instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
- Assists the patient and/or caregiver/family with activities of daily living, provision and education, and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward maintaining independence for as long as possible and optional comfort care.
- RN will act as Case Manager until a Case Manager is assigned by the Clinical Supervisor or designee and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for the assigned patient.
COMMUNICATION
- Completes, maintains, and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
- Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
- Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self‑care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet, and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
- Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
- Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
- Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
- Is responsible for all on‑call duties as defined by the on‑call policy.
- Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
- Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
- Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
- Registered nurse with current licensure to practice professional nursing in the state.
- Graduate of a National League for Nursing accredited school of nursing.
- Maintains a current CPR certification.
- Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state or organization requirements and is in good working order.
- Minimum of two years’ experience, at least one of which is in the area of public health, home care, or hospice nursing is preferred.
- Self‑directed and able to work with minimal supervision.
- Management experience is not required; responsible for supervising home health aide if weekend visits are assigned to the aide.
- Demonstrates excellent observation, problem‑solving, verbal, and written communication; nursing skills per competency checklist.
- Shows ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
- Homecare/Homebase (Pointcare) EMR system knowledge preferred but not required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.
- Ability to lift, position, and/or transfer patients.
- Ability to lift supplies and equipment.
- Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and/or crouching.
- Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
The employer for this position is The Pennant Group, Inc. and the qualified candidates may request reasonableness and accommodations for any disability. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the United States.
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to ensuring that all conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, evaluation, transfer, promotion, discipline, determination of compensation and/or benefits, and termination of employment are based on qualifications and work record. No employment decision is made, nor do we discriminate, on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex/pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, or disability.