On-Call Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)

 On-Call Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) 

Ankeny, IA

This caring hospice organization recognizes the significance of each precious, end-of-life journey.  We will do all we can to provide an empowering hospice experience to each patient we have the privilege of working with.

We are seeking a talented Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) for On-call nights & weekends / 7 days on & 7 days off.

Job Summary:

The On-Call Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) organizes and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse directs the immediate services necessary to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities. The schedule for this position is 7On/7Off; 5p-8a Monday -Thursday and 5p-8a Friday-Monday. 

Responsibilities:

• Available to receive and respond to calls from Triage during assigned shifts making visits to patients with changing conditions, and completing weekend admissions.
• Completes an initial, comprehensive, and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs for after-hours calls. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness.
• Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process.
• Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by:
• Writing and initiating plan of care
• Re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
• Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary
• Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care.
• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
• Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• After-hours on-call responsibilities included remaining available for all calls related to patient care and making all appropriate visits as necessary.
• Remaining with patient and or family through a crisis period until resolved and or relieved.
• Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
• Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the interdisciplinary group.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient.
• Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care.
• Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
• Assumes 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.
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments.
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities.

Qualifications:

• A passion for hospice care and the ability to build relationships with both patients and their family members.
• The ability to work efficiently with little direct supervision.
• A valid driver's license and an insured automobile that is in good working order.
• 1-2 years of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting (required).  1-2 years of recent home care experience (preferred). We're excited to train RN's that are passionate about hospice care.
• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
• Understands hospice philosophy, secure with issues of death/dying. Comfortable providing specialized care to the terminally ill.
• Displays empathy for the needs of the ill, injured, frail and impaired.
• Provides a calm demeanor when in a patient’s home.

Benefits of Employment:

• Excellent compensation
• The opportunity to work 1-1 with our patients, impacting their life and their families.
• Two medical plan choices
• Dental, vision and life insurance benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Customized Mental Health Support Program
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 401k Retirement Plan with up to 4% employer matching 
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Company-paid Basic Life Insurance, AD&D, Short Term and Long-Term Disability

Schedule:

• Monday – Monday (Monday night – Monday morning)
• Monday-Thursday; 5pm-8am; Friday-Monday: 5pm-8am
• 7 days on & 7 days off

Compensation: 

• $75,000 - $88,000 per/year
• Mileage reimbursement at $0.58 per/mile

Work Location:

• Mix of facility and home-based hospice care

Coverage Area:

• Must be willing to cover the entire territory

Productivity:

• Only called when a visit is required
• Triage nurses on staff to answer calls
• May do some admissions/patient visits as needed

EMR Used:

• Homecare Homebase + nVoq voice app for seamless documentation

Equipment:

• All-in-one smart phone with keyboard attachment
• Necessary supplies