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SalaryOverview:
St. Luke’s C.A.R.E delivery model (Continuity, Accountability, Relationship-based, Evidence-based) reflects a commitment to compassionate, competent care delivered by the interdisciplinary team. Care is provided through a therapeutic relationship with the patient and family. A spirit of inquiry is encouraged and supported. Evidence-driven protocols are utilized to assure reliable and consistent care.
Hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work at https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org. Responsibilities:
The Palliative Care Nurse is responsible for performing initial and readmission consults for Palliative Care patients, following patients and families during hospitalization. Palliative Care customers include patients with life-threatening or serious and complex illness, their families and caregivers, physicians and the community. The Palliative Care Team members include representation from nursing, social services, spiritual care, the physician and the patient and family. The Palliative Care Nurse works closely with the Palliative Care Team in meeting the unique needs of each individual patient and family. Responsibilities include supporting and providing education to the healthcare team and clinical practice in palliative care. This may include the areas of inpatient, outpatient and the Palliative Care Clinic
St. Luke’s C.A.R.E delivery model (Continuity, Accountability, Relationship-based, Evidence-based) reflects a commitment to compassionate, competent care delivered by the interdisciplinary team. Care is provided through a therapeutic relationship with the patient and family. A spirit of inquiry is encouraged and supported. Evidence-driven protocols are utilized to assure reliable and consistent care.
Why UnityPoint Health?
- Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what's right for the people we serve.
- Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
- Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
- Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.
Hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work at https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org.
Performs Patient Care Functions as Required
- Responds to physician requests for inpatient palliative care consults.
- Notifies the Palliative Care Team’s Medical Director or designee of consults requested by the referring physician.
- Completes the initial palliative care assessment of the patient/family needs for palliative care including symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual needs.
- Facilitates patient/family conferences as related to palliative care, as appropriate.
- Assists patients and families in identifying patient goals for care.
- Participates in physician rounds as requested and participates as a regular member of multidisciplinary rounds, as appropriate.
- Facilitates communication between Palliative Care Services and primary medical service and/or inpatient nursing unit to plan, deliver and evaluate care.
- Serves as a resource to medical staff and nursing staff in the provision of Palliative Care Services.
- Assesses patient discharge needs and preferences; works with team to facilitate appropriate referrals.
- Collaborates with Medical Social Services to assess patient financial issues, reimbursement issues and/or psychosocial needs.
- Provides support, counseling, and information to patients and families dealing with end-of-life issues or with issues related to life-threatening or serious and complex illness.
- Facilitates spiritual support for patient/family by the Spiritual Care Department, as appropriate.
- Facilitates family counseling for patient/family by Family Counseling Department, as appropriate.
- Assesses need for patient and family education. Provides health teaching and counseling, as appropriate. Facilitates referrals to appropriate resources.
- Partners with the healthcare team to achieve the patient care outcomes and goals of care.
- Participates in the development of the Palliative Care interdisciplinary plan of care and attends interdisciplinary team meetings weekly.
- Assists with special projects and/or other duties as assigned or requested.
- Participates in St. Luke’s Hospital structure as related to appropriate committees/work groups/ performance improvement and strategic planning.
- Facilitates ethical discussions related to care decisions, as requested.
- Supports the St. Luke’s Hospital mission, vision and values.
Communication and Handoffs
- Demonstrates good verbal and written communication skills with patients, families, healthcare team members and other customers. Verbal communication is clear and precise. Written communication is legible, if handwritten, and done in a timely manner using approved abbreviations.
- Computer documentation is done in accordance with hospital and unit policies.
- Real-time documentation is utilized.
- A critical component of our C.A.R.E. Model is the relationship between the patient and the caregiver. That relationship is built by time, communication and demonstrating compassion.
- Assists in assessing, developing, and evaluating patient/family educational materials on palliative care.
- Provides internal education to nursing, medical social services, spiritual care and other departments within St. Luke’s Hospital. Facilitates education to providers and medical staff in cooperation with the Palliative Care Nurse (RN) Program Manager.
- Provides external education on palliative care to external agencies and community groups.
- Conducts systematic follow-up with patients after discharge from St. Luke’s Hospital as needed.
- Models behavior that invites colleague interaction and demonstrates mutuality.
- Builds partnerships that support and promote Palliative Care strategies.
- Supports organizational efforts of establishing and maintaining relationships with communities, benefactors and other employees.
- Goals and expectations are reviewed each shift to verify priorities.
- Handoffs are done with attention to detail and with safety as a high priority. Tools such as SBAR are consistently utilized to assure that critical information is clearly communicated, shared and updated with each handoff. SBAR handoffs are utilized to communicate patient treatment and assessment information, patient education needs, goals of care and other quality care measures.
- Supports evidence-based clinical practice and questions the rationale and scientific basis for clinical practice and/or changes in practice.
- Complies with changes in clinical practice and standards.
- Participates in data collection when the opportunity is presented.
- Supports/participates in interpretation of clinical literature and uses to validate and/or change clinical practice.
- Demonstrates flexibility and self-direction in meeting patient and unit needs by responding as a team player.
- Assesses and provides for educational opportunities for patients, families and other healthcare team members based on adult teaching-learning concepts and health literacy principles.
- Assists in the orientation of new associates by acting as a resource and mentor to associates. Collaborates with unit leadership, as appropriate. Serves in preceptor role, as appropriate.
- Participates in the education experiences of students.
- Provides professional nursing leadership through compliance with established unit routines, policies and procedures.
- Assists in creating a positive work environment that contributes to safety and positive clinical outcomes. Supports recruitment and retention of staff to assure an adequate workforce for clinical care.
- Assumes accountability for own competence, clinical performance and professional growth.
- Continually maintains and strives to enhance personal technical and clinical competence in all job-related duties.
- Specialty certifications encouraged.
- Participates in appropriate professional organizations.
- Participates in mandatory education and unit staff meetings per established guidelines.
- Encouraged to make and support improvement in unit and hospital practices through participation in shared governance and performance improvement activities at the unit and hospital-wide level.
- Complies with established safety goals, infection prevention and risk management policies and procedures.
- Performs other duties as deemed necessary to meet the hospital’s mission, to give the healthcarewe’d like our loved ones to receive.
- Must have successfully completed an accredited nursing program.
- RN required.
- RN licensure in the State of Iowa.
- Current BCLS certification.
- Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English.
- Understanding of end-of-life care, grief and loss, and alleviation of suffering.
- Demonstrated excellence in clinical knowledge of pain and other symptom management.
- Assumes responsibility for maintaining clinical expertise in palliative care.
- Must have knowledge of end-of-life and palliative care.
- Must be familiar with ethical principles and comfortable in applying them to clinical situations.
- Ability to participate in an interdisciplinary team.
- Must be a teacher and educator, facilitator, and decision-maker.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Must be able to successfully complete basic computer course through in-hospital training; develops and maintains necessary computer skills including Word and Excel.
- Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.
- Must be able to work well with all customers, coworkers and interdisciplinary team members.
- Must demonstrate a cooperative, courteous and dependable working performance.
- Must possess high integrity and maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Collaboratively interacts with St. Luke’s Hospital associates, physicians, patients, families and community in a professional manner.
- Participates in multidisciplinary improvement initiatives. Develops and nurtures collaborative multidisciplinary relationships.
- Maintain flexibility with scheduling of hours and travel as needed.
- Adapt positively and constructively to a constantly changing healthcare environment.
- He/she meets regularly with the Palliative Care Team to apprise of decisions made and actions taken, collaborates in problem-solving, and reports plans and/or progress of Palliative Care patients.
