Hospice Center RN

Summary of Responsibilities

The Hospice Center Nurse works under the general direction of the Center Manager, and the patient’s attending physician in the provision of skilled nursing assessment, planning, and care to maximize the comfort and health of patients and their families. The Hospice Center Nurse is responsible for identifying patient/family needs and for providing supportive care in accordance with the Center Manager and attending physician’s orders, plan of care and Compass policies and procedures, including pertinent documentation and timely completion of all paperwork required. 

RESPONSIBILITIES & FUNCTIONS:

• Promote hospice philosophy.
• Assume shared responsibility for patients who reside in the hospice center and their families to include the assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating phases of the nursing process.
• Promotes involvement of the patient/family in the plan of care with emphasis placed on pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support.
• Initiate communication with attending physicians, other hospice staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient/family.
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• Maintain regular communication with the attending physician concerning patient/family status.
• Maintain communication with the Center Manager and Medical Director regarding the general inpatient (GIP) level of care patients.
• Obtain data on physical, psychological, social and spiritual factors that may influence patient/family health status and incorporate data into the plan of care.
• Maintain up-to-date patient records so that problems, plans, actions, and goals are accurately and clearly stated, and changes are reflected as they occur.
• Seek input from other team members regarding the patient plan of care to obtain additional knowledge and support.
• Accept responsibility for coordinating physical care of the patient by teaching primary caregivers, volunteers, and employed caregivers or by providing direct care as appropriate.
• Meet regularly with hospice clinical staff to review problems or unique issues, share professional support, and exchange feedback aimed toward enhancing professional growth.
• Supervise and update the health aide plan of care.
• Inform the Center Manager of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues.
• May need to respond to patients/families of other hospice nurses during on-call times, or as requested by the Center Manager to meet patient/family needs during the absence of another hospice nurse.
• Provide appropriate support at time of death and period of bereavement.
• Takes responsibility and accountability for own nursing practice, continuing education, and professional development.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse from an accredited college or university.
• Possession of a current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the State of Maryland.
• 2-3 years of varied work experience as a professional nurse, hospice experience preferred.
• 1-2 years’ experience working in an acute care setting.
• Skilled in nursing practice, able to cope with family emotional stress and accepting of individual lifestyles.
• Dependent on work experience/training, the hospice nurse may be designated to perform assessments for pediatrics, obstetrics, psychiatrics, etc.

Work Scheduling

• Twelve-hour shifts 8:00 am to 8:00 pm

FLSA Status:

This position is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.