The Hospice Nurse Case Manager works under the general direction of the Clinical Manager - Homecare, and the patients’ 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 nurse is responsible for identifying patient/family needs and for providing supportive care in accordance with the attending physician’s orders, plan of care, and Compass Regional Hospice (Compass) policy and procedures. The Hospice Nurse Case Manager may also function as a visiting Nurse, when needed.
Reports to: Clinical Manager - Homecare
RESPONSIBILITIES & FUNCTIONS:
- Promote hospice philosophy.
- Assume primary responsibility for a patient/family caseload that includes assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating phases of the nursing process.
- 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.
- Maintain regular communication with the Clinical Manager - Homecare to review caseload.
- Maintain regular communication with the attending physician concerning patient/family status.
- 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 to ensure 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’s 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 from caseloads, share professional support, and exchange feedback aimed toward enhancing professional growth.
- Attend patient meetings and facilitate discussion of issues from case load for full staff discussion, consultation, and evaluation.
- Supervise and update the health aide plan of care every two weeks or more frequently as needed.
- Inform the Clinical Manager - Homecare of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues.
- Responds to patients/families of other hospice nurses during on-call times, or as requested by the Clinical Manager - Homecare to meet patient/family needs during the absence of other hospice nurses.
- Provide appropriate support at time of death and period of bereavement.
- Take responsibility and accountability for own nursing practice, continuing education, and professional development.
- Promotes involvement of the patient/family in the plan of care with emphasis placed on pain and symptom management, emotional and spiritual support.
Minimum 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.
Physical Qualifications
- Possesses physical ability to perform job-related duties which may require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, partial or complete assistance with activities of daily living without assistance from another health care worker or significant other.
- Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing with individuals and families in end-of-life situations.
- Must be able to use a computer and other office equipment to document patient information.
- Must be able to hear to process directions and requests from doctors, employees, patients, and other individuals.
- Must be able to drive to visit patients’ homes for supervision and patient care.
- Must have a valid driver’s license, furnish your own reliable transportation, and maintain insurance coverage.
Work Scheduling:
- Full-time Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
- Rotating on-call coverage providing 24 hour, 7 days a week call schedules for patients/families for symptom management and/or emotional support.
FLSA Status:
This position is classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act for full time employees.
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