Registered Nurse at Southwest Palliative Plus in Dallas, TX

Job Summary: Primary functions are to administer nursing care for patients of all ages in their place of residence and to coordinate care with the Interdisciplinary Group/Team, patients, families, and referring agency. Assumes the responsibility for, and participates in, the coordination of care.

Job Qualifications:

• Education: Graduate from an accredited Diploma, Associate, or Baccalaureate School of Nursing.
• Licensure: Current state license as a registered nurse (RN) and/or in accordance with the Board of Nurse Examiners rules for
• Nurse Licensure Compact. Current driver’s license.
• Experience: Experience as a registered nurse in a clinical care setting. Hospice experience preferred.
• Skills: Nursing skills as defined as generally accepted standards of practice. Good interpersonal skills. Specialized skills preferred in palliation and end-of-life. Must read, write and comprehend English.
• Transportation: Reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance.

Environmental and Working Conditions:

Works in patients’ homes in various conditions; possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases; ability to work a flexible schedule; ability to travel locally; some exposure to unpleasant weather; PRN emergency calls.

Physical and Mental Effort:

Prolonged standing and walking required, with ability to lift up to 50 lbs and move patients. Requires working under some stressful conditions to meet deadlines and patient needs, and to make quick decisions and resource acquisition; meet patient and family individualized psychosocial needs. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity.

Essential Functions:

• Initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments of the impact of the terminal disease on the patients physical, functional, psychosocial, and environmental needs as evidenced by documentation, clinical record, case conference, team report, evaluations, and ADLs, (i.e., risk for grief, cultural and spiritual, verbal, and non-verbal).
• Applies specific criteria for admission and re-certification to hospice care to establish appropriate levels of care and the patient’s eligibility.
• Implements/develops/documents the plan of care to ensure quality and continuity of care and recommend revisions to the plan, as necessary.
• Consults with and educate the patient and family regarding disease process, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, nutrition, and dietary needs. Prioritize any needs with the members of the IDG/T. Provide training to other staff as needed.
• Determines scope and frequency of services needed based on acuity and patient/family needs. Assess the ability of the care giver to meet the patient’s immediate needs upon admission and throughout care.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.
• Applies concepts of infection control and standard precautions in coordinating and performing patient care activities to prevent contamination and transmission of disease.
• Provides clinical directions to the Hospice Aide and LPN/LVN to ensure quality and continuity of service provided.
• Prepares clinical and progress notes that demonstrate progress toward established goals. Ensure continuity of quality patient care delivered with appropriate documentation.
• Informs physician and other personnel of changes in the patient’s needs and outcomes of intervention, while evaluating patient and family response to care.
• Monitors assigned cases to ensure compliance with requirements of third party payors.
• Demonstrates commitment and professional growth and competency by participating in the Hospice sponsored in-service programs and maintaining or improving competency. Participates in the Hospice’s QAPI program.
• Promotes the Hospice’s philosophy and administrative policies.
• Performs on-call responsibilities and provides on-call services to patients and their families as assigned.
• Provides effective communication to patients, family, team members, and other health care professionals.