On-call Hospice RN

JOB TITLE:                          On-Call Registered Nurse

RESPONSIBLE TO:            Patient Care Manager/Executive Director

SUPERVISES:                      NA

POSITION SUMMARY:    Under the overall direction of the Medical Director and the IDT (interdisciplinary team), the On-call RN is responsible for supporting terminally ill patients and their loved ones. The On-call RN endeavors to utilize their teaching, assessment, observation, and intervention skills to provide palliative care and maximize the quality of life of the patient.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Receive phone calls from the patient and caregivers. Assesses and evaluates the needs of the patient and their loved ones, as directed by the current Plan of Care.
2. Complete home visits as necessary to meet the needs of the patient. Assists in organizing resources to meet those needs and report the following working day to the IDT or RN covering the next shift.
3. Provide nursing care as needed; attentive to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patient.
4. Educate patients and their loved ones on symptom control, medications, and direct nursing care measures to support quality of life.
5. Assist patients and their loved ones in making choices that best meet their needs by providing alternatives and support.
6. Attending deaths, support loved ones, assists with final arrangements.
7. Admit new patients, educate families, arrange for services and equipment, make nurse visits as requested, obtain physician orders, and procure medications.
8. Collaborate professionally with other health care providers, including the patient’s physician, pharmacies, and care facilities to ensure optimal care for patients.
9. Communicate often and well with other IDT members, function as an integral member of the patient care team.
10. Provide all services in full compliance with Medicare regulations, including timely, professional documentation.
11. Develop and revise, as appropriate, patient care plan in collaboration with other IDT members.
12. Attend Nurse’s Meetings as requested, IDT meetings as needed (every other week) and identified All Staff meetings, including training throughout the year.
13. Serve as assigned on agency-wide initiatives and/or committees.
14. Participate in QAPI activities as assigned.
15. Contribute to communication, positive work environment, and team effort.
16. Understand and adhere to Hospice of Redmond policies and procedures.
17. Delegate appropriate tasks to Hospice Aide as needed.
18. Request referral to other disciplines as needed to enhance team effort and quality of care for patients and their loved ones.
19. Update volunteers as needed with patient’s condition and/or delegates this to Volunteer Coordinator.
20. Coordinate transfer and/or discharge of patient under the direction of IDT/Patient Care Manager, mindful of coordinating plan of care in accordance with policy for continuum of care.
21. Demonstrate respect for and promotes dignity of patient in all interactions.
22. Maintain confidentiality of patient information.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Commitment to serving the needs of the terminally ill.
2. Current Oregon licensure as a Registered Nurse.
3. Minimum 1-year professional nursing in hospice care.
4. Dependable automobile with liability insurance coverage; and current Oregon driver’s license.
5. Proof of COVID Vaccination required per State of Oregon/Federal mandate.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PERSONAL DEMANDS:

1. Ability to function effectively in high stress and crisis situations. Ability to manage multiple priorities, and work as a team participant.
2. Ability to assess and respond to the needs of a patient and their families in any setting where the patient might be located.
3. Demonstrates self-management skills related to personal loss issues to enable self to be an effective participant in the Hospice setting.
4. Demonstrates computer literacy to accurately document patient visits, as necessary.

OSHA CATEGORY:

Category I: Tasks that involve potential exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues.