Registered Nurse (RN), Admissions

Job Summary: Provides professional nursing services or supervises the provision of nursing services aimed at enrolling hospice patients in accordance with accepted standards of practice and guidelines.

Essential Functions

1. Completes initial history and assessment, documenting problem areas to be developed in the plan of care within twenty-four (24) hours of admission.
2. Assists in developing and implementing the individualized plan of care.
3. Completes initial assessment of the impact of the terminal diagnosis on the patient’s physical, functional, psychosocial and environmental needs and activities of daily living, including:  the risk for pathological grief, cultural and spiritual implications, and verbal/non-verbal communication patterns. 
4. Applies specific criteria for admission and re-certification of hospice care to establish appropriate levels of care and to assist the physician in determining the patient’s eligibility for hospice and determine scope and frequency of services needed based on acuity and patient/family needs.
5. Provides initial patient/family instruction, education and support regarding the disease process, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, and issues of ethical concerns. Assesses the ability of caregivers to meet patients’ immediate needs upon admission and throughout care.
6. Confers with the physician, social worker and spiritual care advisor to provide assessment information after the initial visit and confers with the operations manager or designee to provide patient/family information, including unusual or potentially problematic issues, as needed.
7. Provides end-of-life care including comfort care and symptom management according to organizational indicators.
8. Documents patient care following established organizational standards of documentation practice, regulatory and licensure requirements, and submits documentation in accordance with policy.
9. Coordinates ordering durable medical equipment and supplies.
10. Evaluates pending referrals to ensure accurate follow-through.
11. Works in partnership with the marketer of assigned region to collaborate and encourage development and growth of NorthStar Care Community relations in the communities served.
12. Evaluates own need for professional, psychosocial and emotional support and uses identified system(s) to meet the need.
13. Participates in meetings, trainings, education at the individual, group and organizational levels, both within and external to the organization, to achieve desired outcomes.
14. Acts as a resource for staff members and orients new staff as needed.
15. Responds to information requested by third party payers, calls clinical report to case managers as directed.
16. Utilizes allocated supplies and resources appropriately to ensure business outcomes are met.
17. Utilizes time management skills to ensure proper follow through with pending referrals.
18. Assists marketing in the local community to ensure that time not scheduled with referrals is utilized to obtain additional referrals.
19. Adjusts to changes in workload and schedules based on changing team priorities

Qualifications

1. Graduation from an accredited school of nursing with possession of a current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the State of Michigan.
2. Minimum of one (1) to two (2) years of varied nursing experience required; hospice experience and CHPN preferred.
3. Skilled in nursing practice with a demonstrated ability to assess and respond to the needs of patients and families.
4. Ability to use technology (hardware and software) required of clinicians in their practice.
5. Must be able to read, write and speak English and be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing in internal and external relationships for all essential job functions.
6. Must possess sound judgment; effective organizational, prioritization and follow-through skills; attention to detail; accuracy; dependability; tact; and ability to maintain confidential information.
7. Must be able to coordinate several tasks simultaneously while maintaining a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.
8. Proven ability to work effectively with all other staff members and as a team player.
9. Must be able to cope with family/caregiver emotional stress, cultural diversity and be tolerant of individual life-styles.
10. Proof of current tuberculin testing required.  Patient contact will not be allowed until tuberculin clearance is documented.
11. Must have reliable transportation.
12. Must be eligible to work in the United States.