Registered Nurse (RN)

Job Description:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities for a Hospice Inpatient Unit Registered Nurse:

Demonstrates ability to perform comprehensive assessments to identify all physical, psychosocial, environmental, safety, emotional and spiritual needs related to the terminal illness that must be addressed in order to promote the patient's well-being, comfort, and dignity throughout the dying process and documents findings on all appropriate forms and on the plan of care.

Performs pain assessments using Edmonton Scale, adhering to pain protocols, knowledgeable in equi-analgesic dosing and assures optimal pain relief using an interdisciplinary focus and timely appropriate interventions.

Organizes and prioritizes assignments to consistently meet productivity standards and complete documentation requirements within identified time parameters.

Appropriately explains duties and functions of the interdisciplinary team; articulates disease progression of cancer(s), lung disease, heart disease, liver disease, dementia, and other neurologic disease states.

Able to articulate etiologies of symptom manifestation (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, diarrhea, constipation, mucositis, weakness/fatigue, dysphasia, edema, dyspnea, cognitive impairment, urinary retention, depression, delirium) related to a disease process.

Modifies the plan of care timely and appropriately with a demonstrated skill in anticipating problems that may cause or create a threat to patient safety or lack of symptom control.

Demonstrates knowledge in usage, indication, adverse side effects, contraindications and negative interactions of most commonly used steroids, NSAIDs, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, narcotics, antifungals, and diuretics.

Documents to agency standards, timely completion, timely signatures, and documents care using A-I-R protocol to support hospice stay in program and level of care.

Elicited no founded patient/family complaints or unusual occurrences (i.e. reportable incidents).

Demonstrates proper sharps disposal, hand hygiene, waste disposal, use of personal protective equipment.

Adheres to requirements of both CHPC and Hospice Buffalo policies and procedures that are both patient focused (clinical) and organizational focused (administrative); Adheres to HIPPA regulations and policies.

Maintains the security of patient electronic/written records.

Incorporates computer documentation into patient visit and/or as much as appropriately possible without compromising the quality of care and/or communication.

Assures the timely completion and return of all initial, renewal and modified orders and reviews all PPOC's for procedural compliance.

Qualifications for a Hospice Inpatient Unit Registered Nurse:

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing with current RN licensure in the State of New York.
Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing preferred.
Valid Driver's License, free of serious violations, and vehicle required for use when on duty or on-call.

Year of nursing practice as a professional nurse is preferred.