With direction from the registered nurse, provides nursing care and support to the patient and family. Promotes professional integrity, team work and participates in the interdisciplinary care team functions. Provides continuous care coverage as needed.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Provides professional, courteous, nursing services to the patient/family as one of the functions of the Interdisciplinary Care Team.
- Supervises the administration of medications by family or other responsible care-givers; teaches the proper techniques of administration and record keeping. Records shall consist of progress notes data including the time/date of administration and observations concerning the reactions and response of the patient/family to his/her environment.
- Maintains a high standard of quality of care according to hospice training, guidelines, and expectations.
- Demonstrates tolerance to various and differing individual life styles without imposing his/her own values on the patient/family unit.
- Reports to the RN Clinical Manager (RNCM) for daily schedule, and reports pertinent changes to the RNCM, or the Primary Nurse during the shift and at the end of his/her shift.
- Actively participates in professional organizations whose goals and functions are related to those of Hospice. Maintains an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the local, state, and federal laws impacting upon the practice of nursing in the hospice setting.
- Performs specific tasks as follows but not limited to, personal hygiene (bath, shower, hair, nails, etc.), passive range of motion and positioning, enemas (prepared, tap water, soap suds), dressings, wound irrigations and decubitus care, colostomy care, administration of medications and instructing patient and family in medications administration, tracheostomy care and suctioning.
- Adheres to professional standards of practice for nursing.
- Assists the RNCM and/ or RN in the implementation and coordination of the care plan. Assesses the patient's physical and emotional condition and provides patient care as directed.
- Teaches the patient and family as required to maintain safe environment.
STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:
- Participates proactively in improving performance at the individual, departmental and organizational levels.
- Actively sets goals related to the Strategic Challenges and is accountable for meeting goals at annual evaluation.
- Reports to work and meetings at expected times, prepared to work, and adheres to scheduled hours.
- Utilizes work time effectively and completes quality work in prescribed time using appropriate time management skills and resources.
- Provides superior customer service to all internal and external customers.
- Cooperates and functions as a team member within the organization.
- Exhibits flexibility and demonstrates dependability within the organization.
- Demonstrates courtesy and respect when dealing with fellow staff members, volunteers, and customers.
- Demonstrates willingness to accept responsibility and accountability in assigned duties.
- Demonstrates ability to perform job under stressful situations.
- Exhibits exceptional communications skills.
- Complies with policies, procedures and standard practices, including A-1000.
- Represents Hospice of Marion County, Inc. professionally at all times through positive customer interactions, exceptional written and verbal communications and appropriate business attire/ personal appearance.
- Complies with all Federal, State, and local government regulations, maintaining a strong position against fraud and abuse.
- Adheres to all safety and security policies.
- Maintains the confidentiality of patients, families, colleagues, customers, other sensitive situations and adheres to all HIPAA policies.
- Uses resources in a fiscally responsible manner.
- Promotes Hospice of Marion County, Inc. through participation in community and professional organizations.
- Shares expertise with co-workers both formally and informally.
- Understands, adheres to and promotes the Mission, Vision, and Values.
- Participates in orienting new employees, volunteers and students.
- Meets or exceeds Quality Improvement Standards and Standards of Excellence in all areas of practice.
- Remains in the service area during emergencies, and as appropriate and/or as scheduled, to work up to, during, and after the emergency to assist in providing quality care to all patients/clients. If you reside in a mandatory evacuation area and so must evacuate, or if there are any special family needs that need to be accommodated, management must be notified. Management will be sensitive to those needs but must be kept apprised of your location and a source of contact during an emergency so that, if required, they are able to reach you. (See Policy A/HR-510)
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Completion of a formal Practical Nurse Program. Current Practical Nurse Program (LPN) license issued by the Florida Board of Nursing required.
- No experience required, extensive training provided.
- Must have a Valid Florida drivers License, maintain current auto insurance coverage and have access to a reliable automobile.
- Basic life support (BLS) CPR certification required.
- Ability to work unsupervised in the field, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations, as well as documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers, patients/families or employees.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and ability to demonstrate essential usage.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability to operate a facsimile, copy machines, computers and other common office machines, with working knowledge of MS Word, Outlook, Excel and other software appropriate to positions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; stand and reach with hands and arms; to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- The employee must frequently lift up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move a bed bound patient who is unable to assist his/her own care, using the appropriate equipment and/or techniques; weight may vary 10-250+ pounds.
- Physical ability to access any home, hospital, Nursing Home, Doctor’s Office, or Assisted Living Facility.
- Ability to communicate with customers and provide feedback.
- Frequent mobility in and out of offices and buildings.
- Frequent use of hands and arms to reach, lift, carry and move objects.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
- Possible contact with communicable diseases.
- Frequently works in outside weather conditions.
- Noise level in work environment is usually moderate.
