Rn Case Manager (Hospice)

Job Summary:

Provides direct palliative care to terminally ill patients and their families while functioning within a medically approved plan of care. Demonstrates proficiency in triaging patient emergencies both in person and on the phone while effectively communicating patient needs and concerns to the correct member of the hospice team.

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Accountability:

Reports to the Director of Quality and Education

Essential Job Functions:

1. Fosters and maintains an effective working relationship between co-workers, patients and other professional members of the community.
2. Follows an individualized Plan of Care established by the interdisciplinary team for each patient
3. Manages overall care to assigned patients encompassing coordination of all hospice disciplines
4. Assists the hospice interdisciplinary team in establishing and maintaining the individualized plan of care and treatment goals for each assigned patient
5. Gathers, reports, and analyzes patient care data and implements care accordingly
6. Capable of giving adequate report on patient’s condition to the Hospice Medical Director, members of the
7. interdisciplinary team, other nurses and supervisors as needed
8. Immediately reports any changes to the Hospice Medical Director and interdisciplinary team
9. Reports unusual conditions, observations and pertinent information to the physician or Director of Nursing
10. Understands/provides basic principles of palliative care/pain management within the Scope of Practice
11. Complies with all documentation policies/procedures
12. Completes appropriate documentation in a legible and timely manner
13. Utilizes appropriate chain of command
14. Supervises and delegates duties to Certified Nurse Aides and Licensed Practical Nurses
15. Participates in Interdisciplinary Team Meetings and other Performance Improvement Activities
16. Pronouncement of Death with previously established physician orders; RN may pronounce death
17. Calls coroner and/or patient’s mortuary of choice and completes process related to removal of body from location of death
18. Provides intervention and support as needed related to terminal illness and loss
19. Provides emotional and spiritual support and makes appropriate referrals to other team members
20. Assesses and address depression and fear associates with terminal illness
21. Facilitates communication among patient, family, and hospice team
22. Identifies caregiver strain which may necessitate respite care relief, and or support
23. Educates and assist the patient and family to complete Advance Directives upon patient/family request
24. Provides personal care as assigned by the Interdisciplinary Team, Hospice Physician and Director of Clinical Operations which may consist of, but not limited to:

• Nursing assessment/reassessment
• Medication management, administration, and teaching
• Providing comfort measures
• Insertion/maintenance/removal of foley catheters
• Insertion/maintenance/removal of various IV catheters for pain control/comfort
• Application/adjustment of oxygen, IV, NG, G-Tube and other invasive lines as ordered by the physician.
• Vital signs (B/P, T, P, R)
• Assists with ambulation/transfers
• Follows the State of Nevada Nurse Practice Act during all patient care activities
• Follows policy and Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice for clinical care

25. Other duties as assigned

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Specific to Job Position:

• Adheres to patient rights, abuse reporting and confidentiality policies
• Attends scheduled staff meetings and/or in-service training
• Adheres to departmental dress code requirements related to uniform, personal grooming, and other attire
• Demonstrates reliability by making every attempt to report to work on time, providing proper notification for absences or tardiness and participating in required meetings
• Demonstrates ability to problem-solve and make decisions by assessing situations and considering alternatives, seeking guidance and direction as necessary, utilizing proper chain of command
• Demonstrates effective time management skills by coordinating activities to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency, willingness to adjust or revise work schedules as requested
• Assumes responsibility for on-going personal development and continuing education
• Stays current with all mandatory agency and regulatory requirements
• Completes assigned projects within specified time frames

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Physical/Safety Requirements:

• Must have the strength and endurance required for standing, walking, lifting, bending, and pushing on a consistent basis between 10 and 100 lbs.
• Must utilize appropriate durable medical equipment as needed in a safe manner
• Uses appropriate body mechanics as needed for personal use and safe patient care
• Category 1 for potential exposure to blood/body fluids. (Requires the performance of procedures or other tasks in the work routine that involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues, or a potential for spills or splashes of them. Protective measures should be used while engaged in Category 1 tasks with exposure potential.)
• Must utilize appropriate PPE as needed
• Follows the designated plan of action in the event of a fire or other emergency/disaster
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to fumes or airborne particles, work-related stresses, and driving hazards.
• This individual may be required to drive to meetings with clients, health care professionals or patients’ homes.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to meet the work environmental and physical demands listed above.

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Qualifications and Experience:

1. Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse by the State Board of Nursing in the State of Nevada
2. Prefer 1 year experience as a registered nurse in hospice, home health or geriatric care
3. Successful completion of Background check pursuant to NRS 449.188 and NRS 179A.100
4. Must read, speak, write, and understand the English language
5. CPR/First Aid certification is required
6. Must be able to handle frequent interruptions
7. Must be able to cope with emotionally charged situations encompassing, patients, families, and other caregivers
8. Must be available for prescheduled on-call hours, weekends, and holidays
9. Must have reliable transportation and current auto insurance