POSITION SUMMARY: Provides services and skilled nursing care to patients in accordance with the State Nurse Practice Act, Hospice policies, and accepted professional standards of practice.

HOURS: This position works 36 hours and is paid for 40 hours. The shift runs from 7 PM to 7 AM, three days a week. It requires working every third weekend. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Knowledge and application of policies and protocols of SSRCH.
2. Practices infection control techniques.
3. Within the scope of practice, prioritizes daily work, makes adjustments taking into account the needs of the patients, physicians and others in the organization.
4. Organizes and maintains safe patient care and work areas.
5. Documents patient care on a timely basis according to policy.
6. Responds to emergency situations.

PATIENT CARE

1. Develops and supervises the planning, coordination, and delivery of patient/family care.
2. Provides for direct and indirect nursing care to patient/family care.
3. Implements physician orders and maintains communication with primary care physician.
4. Teaches family members signs and symptoms of dying and grieving process.
5. Maintains communication with Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) members through participation in bi-weekly IDT meetings.
6. Acts as liaison to community resources to meet patient/family needs. Refers when appropriate.
7. Uses tools of observation, interviewing, data history, and physical observation and assessment for initial assessment.
8. Interprets changes in behavior, psychological and physiological status of patient for initial and ongoing assessment of needs.
9. Develops nursing diagnosis and care plans individualized for each specific patient and modifies care plan based on ongoing assessment of patient condition.
10. Gives or directs total care for all patients including personal hygiene, comfort measures, nourishment, and provides physical and psychological support to the patient and family.
11. Documents medication given, care given, patient condition, assessment, and patient diagnosis within the patient chart.
12. Performs other related duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

HOME CARE

1. Evaluates patient outcomes related to self-medication and self-treatment, and modifies care plan accordingly.
2. Contacts patient or family to set up schedule for home visits.
3. Teaches family members’ patient care skills, meds, treatments, use of equipment and informs them of signs and symptoms of dying and grieving process.

PERSONNEL

1. Supervises, supports, gives guidance and direction to volunteers and ancillary staff according to patient/family needs and State regulations.
2. Ability to mentor students and provide input for evaluations.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. CHPN certification within 3 years of hire is strongly encouraged.
2. Participates in SSRCH provided education and employee meetings.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

1. Affirms the knowledge, philosophy and principles of hospice care.
2. Maintains patient confidentiality.
3. Directs and applies problem-solving techniques in resolving issues.
4. Required to work reasonable amounts of overtime and flexible hours.
5. Instills confidence in the patient by maintaining a neat and attractive appearance and performing duties in a competent and caring manner.
6. Able to maintain healthy boundaries.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Will work on-call hours, weekends, and holidays, as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. Physical Requirements: Frequent ambulation; constant bending, lifting, twisting, pushing and pulling; reposition patients; able to sit for extended periods of time; manual dexterity to operate computer and other office equipment.
   1. Home Care - Locates and drives to and from patients’ homes and to meetings at other locations as necessary.
2. Mental Requirements: Read, speak, write and understand English; cognitive processes to interpret patient condition and apply appropriate nursing procedures; ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and work with fractions; must function independently without supervision.
3. Working/Environmental Conditions: Fast-paced changing environment, with multiple directives from several disciplines.
   1. Home Care - Requires work in patient homes with no control over environmental conditions.
4. Machines, Equipment, Tools Used: IV equipment; glucometer; PCA; computerized equipment; blood pressure equipment; Foley catheter; bed boards; bed cradle; enteral feeding equipment; infusion pump; automobile; pager; telephone; oximeter; phototherapy equipment; computer.
5. Exposures: Reasonably anticipated exposure to blood, other body fluids or other potentially infectious materials. Possible exposure to communicable diseases or infections. Reasonably anticipated exposure to hazardous equipment, assorted chemicals, gases/vapors and other pollutants.
6. Personal Protective Equipment Required: Assorted gloves; assorted masks, utility gloves; protective eyewear; impervious gowns; impervious aprons; needleless systems as appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

1. Certificate/Degree/License Requirements: RN license to practice nursing in Wisconsin upon hire; valid Wisconsin driver’s license upon hire; re-certification as required. Must carry car insurance on vehicle used to perform job and an acceptable driving record. Certified in CPR BLS according to the American Heart Association and/or the Red Cross.
   1. Home Care: Locate and drive to and from patients’ homes and to meetings at other locations as necessary.
2. Experience Requirements: Minimum of one year medical/surgical, ICU, public health, home health nursing or hospice experience preferred.
3. Education Requirement: Prefer 4-year bachelor degree in nursing or 3-year diploma. Will consider 2-year associate degree with appropriate experience.
4. Communicative Skills: Able to communicate directions to RNs, LPNs, CNAs, Team Assistants and auxiliary personnel; communicates and explains new policies and procedures to employees and new hires; able to describe patient condition to physician, patients and family members and offer comfort; able to recognize and respond to non-verbal cues and communication.