Admissions RN

Schedule: PRN 5pm-10pm

JOB SUMMARY:

The Admissions Nurse is responsible for establishing and maintaining positive relationships with customers and referral sources within the Community. The Admissions Nurse will ensure that the DPCS, Executive Director (ED) and Community Education Director are notified of community needs regarding community education as it relates to the hospice philosophy of care and delivery of services. This position is also responsible for developing and increasing the access to Bristol Hospice Services in the communities that the location serves.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing
Must have a minimum of one (1) year of experience as a professional nurse within the last three (3) years or have a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a program accredited by the National League of Nursing
Must have a current RN license in the state

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Must have excellent observation skills
Must possess exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Must possess excellent problem-solving skills, basic math skills and nursing skills per competency checklist

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to travel 20% of the time, often without notice
Must be flexible in work hours
Must possess the willingness to maintain comprehensive working knowledge regarding information systems and applicable software programs

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Relate information to the DPCS, ED and Community Education Director of initiatives that promote hospice access in the hospice community
Ensure the educational needs of the community related to hospice care and services, are assessed and met on an ongoing basis
Establish and monitor community, customer, payer and patient perceptions of Bristol Hospice as a high-quality provider of hospice services in the community
Facilitate communication with agency and referral sources as needed to promote the continuum of care
Maintain comprehensive working knowledge in the field of Hospice educational resources and share information with appropriate organizational personnel
Facilitate the hospice referral process

Serve as a resource to review and consult available patient information related to the case, to determine hospice care needs and criteria
Coordinate and communicate with hospice agency leadership and referral sources to promote care coordination and a timely admission process
Confer with Medical Director or Attending Physician regarding patient hospice determination criteria; obtain physician orders and Certification of Terminal Illness, as well as other admission documentation as required
Complete hospice consults/evaluations and admissions
Ensure coordination and communication with referral sources and hospice agency leadership
Complete initial assessments of patients and families to determine hospice needs
Facilitate and complete admissions as indicated
Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es) of referrals
Work with the intake department so they can serve as a liaison between facility, physicians, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, community and hospice programs, with coordination of referrals/admission process and services
Respond to customer and referral source requests and concerns, as needed
Coordinate with the ED and DPCS regarding the need for planning, implementation and evaluation of in-service and continuing education programs
May be required to actively participate in the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) process, as directed by ED or DPCS
May be required to function as an RN Case Manager and maintain an assigned patient case load as determined by the ED or the DPCS
Provide professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process
Use health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis
May be required to participate in IDT meetings and work with the IDT to determine the patient/family plan of care, as needed
Provide patient/family education related to the patient/family plan of care
Comply with accepted professional standards of practice and principles

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Must comply with company policies, procedures and processes in addition to Hospice and Homecare rules and regulations
Must comply with harassment and discrimination policies
Must foster good working relationships
Must be a licensed driver with licensed automobile that is insured in accordance with organization/state requirements and is in good working order
Must be willing to submit to a criminal background check as well as a drug/alcohol screening upon hire and periodically thereafter
Possess and maintain current CPR certification

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
Must be able to see color changes on a patient's skin; can listen to heart and lung sounds through a stethoscope; and feel skin temperature, as well as palpating pulses
Must demonstrate vital sensory abilities including near vision, far vision, perceptual speed, visual color discrimination, depth perception and hearing sensitivity

Must have finger dexterity, arm-hand steadiness and manual dexterity
Must be able to manipulate equipment in a safe and effective way and use tools that require motor functioning, such as blood pressure monitors and hemostats
Must be able to communicate with patients, families and other health care workers
Speech clarity, speech recognition and written expression are vital abilities for performing the job
Must be able to lift heavy items on a frequent basis
Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. with or without assistance and must be able to spend a prolonged amount of time standing, walking, bending and stretching
Must possess the ability to deal with stressful situations as well as grieving families.
Must be compassionate without becoming personally involved with the patients and their families