Job Description

Job Summary:

The Hospice Nurse is a compassionate, registered nurse responsible for providing end-of-life care and support to patients and their families. This position ensures high-quality patient care by addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, maintaining regulatory compliance, and fostering a dignified and comfortable environment. The Hospice Nurse collaborates with the interdisciplinary care team to create individualized care plans and provides education to patients, families, and staff.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:

A. PATIENT CARE

• Complete an initial and recurring comprehensive nursing assessment to evaluate physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patient and family.
• Develop an individualized care plan and goals in coordination with the patient, family and interdisciplinary care team.
• Initiate the plan of care and make necessary revisions as patient status and needs change in coordination with the patient, family and interdisciplinary care team.
• Provide direct nursing care, including administration of medications, monitoring vital signs, and symptom management to ensure patient comfort and dignity.
• Teach the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provide medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognize and utilize opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers.
• Support families in understanding the hospice philosophy, end-of-life processes and coping strategies
• Advocate for patient and family needs within the care team to ensure personalized and compassionate care delivery.
• Identify equipment, supplies, and medication necessary to support patient care needs

B. COMMUNICATION 

• Actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and share patient updates, observations, and care recommendations with the interdisciplinary care team to develop care plans that enhance patient outcomes and addresses the holistic needs of patients and families.
• Complete, maintain, and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Record pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
• Communicate with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtain/receive physicians’ orders as required.
• Facilitate communication between patients, families, and the interdisciplinary care team to ensure alignment in care goals and expectations.

C. ADDITIONAL DUTIES 

• Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Manager and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.
• Supervise ancillary personnel and delegate responsibilities when required.
• Assume responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.
• Serve as a resource and mentor for hospice staff, providing guidance and training as needed.
• Participates in on-call duties and holiday duties.

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Position Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. One (1) to two (2) years of acute care experience and one (1) year of hospice care experience preferred.
• Current licensure in State and CPR certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Prolonged or considerable walking or standing. Able to lift, position and/or transfer patients. Able to lift supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping bending, kneeling and/or crouching. Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of hospice care principles, state and federal regulations, and pain and symptom management techniques.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Requires full range of body motion, including handling and lifting clients, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
• May occasionally lift and/or carry items weighing up to 50 pounds.

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