Hospice Home Care
OverviewA Registered Nurse specializing in hospice care provides compassionate and comprehensive end-of-life care to patients with terminal illnesses. They work closely with interdisciplinary teams to manage pain and symptoms, provide emotional support to patients and their families, coordinate care and resources, and ensure the highest quality of life for patients in their final stages. They may also provide education and guidance on advance care planning and help facilitate a peaceful and dignified transition for patients
Responsibilities Completes an initial, comprehensive, and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needsProvides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es)Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing processAssesses and evaluates patient’s status by:Writing and initiating plan of careRegularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needsParticipating in revising the plan of care as necessaryInitiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs changeUses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosisDevelops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis, and incorporates palliative nursing actionsIncludes the patient and the family in the planning processInitiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing proceduresAdministers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of careCounsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needsProvides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and planAssists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort careActs as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseloadCompletes, maintains and=0 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
Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan
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 to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver
Attends interdisciplinary group meetings
Participates in 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
Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments
Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities
Qualifications Graduate of an accredited school of NursingCurrent Registered Nurse licensure in State and American Heart Association CPR certification required; CPR certification may be offered and completed upon hire Bachelor’s degree preferred, with one (1) year of hospice experience preferredOne (1) to two (2) years of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting, and one (1) to two (2) years of recent experience in home care.Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklistMust be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order. About our Line of Business Hospice Home Care focuses on providing hospice care to local patients and their families living in Arkansas. We concentrate on managing a patient’s pain and other symptoms first and foremost, while also providing emotional and spiritual support to the family. The holistic care approach to providing hospice services by the entire care team sets Hospice Home Care apart. We believe the quality of life to be as important as length of life. Hospice Home Care offers Routine Home Care, Respite, General Inpatient Care and Continuous Care. For more information about Hospice Home Care, please visit www.hospicehomecare.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.