Registered Nurse (RN) - Home Health

Job Description Summary

The Registered Nurse plans, organizes and directs home care services and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individual and families within their homes and communities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

Patient Care

• Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Regularly re-evaluates patient nursing needs.
• 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, which establishes goals based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative 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.
• Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
• Identifies discharge planning needs as part of the care plan development and implements prior to discharge of the patient.

Communication

• Prepares clinical notes daily and updates the primary physician when necessary and at least every sixty days.
• Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports and changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians orders as required.
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.

Additional Duties

• Participates in on-call duties.
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care provided every fourteen days.

Position Qualifications

• Is currently licensed as an RN through the State Board of Nursing.
• Possesses and maintains current CPR certification and valid driver’s license.
• Prefer at least one year general nursing experience, home health, clinical, surgical or critical care experience.
• Is self-directed with the ability to work with little supervision; has good organizational skills.
• Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
• Prolonged or considerable walking or standing. Able to lift, position or transfer patients. Able to lift supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling or crouching. Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and/or the Agency requirements and is in good working order.
• Is flexible and cooperative in fulfilling role obligation.