PALLIATIVE CARE NURSE - NO HOSPITAL MEDICINE PROGRAM

Status: Full Time

Shift: Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM

Exempt: No

Summary:

The Palliative Care RN functions as the system facilitator responsible for the daily operational aspects of the Palliative Care Program. This RN utilizes the nursing process based on an expanded knowledge base of pathophysiology and pharmacology to assist with comprehensive health assessments, diagnosis, treatments, and management of acute and chronic health conditions. This person provides coordination and planning, organization, communication, and evaluation of all activities of the Palliative Care Program. This person proactively identifies patients who are appropriate for palliative care and hospice services; assesses all palliative care and hospice referrals based on family patient/family goals to determine appropriate level and type of care for inpatient care or hospice services; provides information to patients/families regarding the palliative care/hospice benefit and ensures continuity of care between settings, physicians, & care team members; participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team; monitors and reports outcomes, assesses/identifies barriers to palliative care and hospice services and works with interdisciplinary team members to address barriers; provides education to physicians, inpatient staff and the community on palliative care, hospice services and end of life care.

Other information:

1. Experience, Knowledge and Skill

2. Previous Experience Required:

Minimum of 3 years nursing experience; clinical nursing care in acute hospital environment, oncology and/or hospice preferred. Palliative Care Certification Required or actively pursuing with an expected completion within 18 months of hire.

2. Specialized or Technical Education Required:

The Palliative Care RN will be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing and be currently licensed to practice nursing in Louisiana. Experience as a professional nurse in which clinical competence and supervisory competence has been demonstrated is required.

3. Manual or Physical Skill Required:

4. Physical Effort Required:

Strength: Light Push: Occasionally Pull: Occasionally

Carry: Occasionally Lift: Occasionally Sit: Occasionally

Stand: Frequently Walk: Frequently

Responsibilities:

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

1. Actively practices to deliver palliative and end of life care to patients in collaboration with the medical staff and other palliative care team members.

A. Perform bedside palliative care patient/family evaluation through the collection of information from all data sources, and formulates a holistic plan of care for the patient and family.

B. Proactively identifies appropriate palliative and hospice referrals within the hospital setting, assesses all palliative and hospice referrals based on the patient/family goals to determine which service and setting is most appropriate.

C. Provides recommendations and support for treatment and management of acute and

chronic health conditions.

D. Works in collaboration with the attending physician and clinical staff to manage patient

symptoms and provides education to physicians, inpatient staff, patient caregivers, and the community on palliative care and hospice services, pain and symptom management, and end of life care.

E. Consult with palliative care physician champion or designees as needed for services

provided.

F. Monitor the client's progress, provide for continuity in interventions over time and through systems, and modify care plan as needed.

G. Work with families to help them gain the knowledge they need in preparation for the possible worsening or death of their family member.

H. Documents care provided appropriately and timely in the medical record. Documents all patient/family encounters.

2. Facilitates all facets of care coordination for palliative care and hospice referrals.

A. Tracks patients with chronic issues, poor symptom control, frequent hospitalizations and prior palliative care referrals to initiate program services as appropriate in collaboration with the attending physician.

B. Works in collaboration with Case Management to facilitate referrals to alternate levels of care as appropriate.

C. Works in collaboration with Hospice services to provide information and transition patients into the service efficiently.

D. Work with patients and families to determine their understanding of the patient's condition and treatment options.

E. Implement patient and family education in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

3. Plan, direct, and provide in-service education for medical staff and clinical staff members.

A. Instruct medical staff and clinical personnel in palliative and end of life care program techniques and procedures.

B. Identify educational needs of staff to facilitate appropriate level of support for palliative and end of life patients, and early referrals into programs.

C. Maintains and enhances current level of knowledge relative to professional practice.

D. Disseminates recent innovations and research finding relevant to specialty nursing practice and patient outcomes.

4. Manages operational functions of the program with regards to performance measurements.

A. Prepare and maintain accurate patient assessments, plan of care, and documents to support sound clinical practice of the program.

B. Assist in development of clinical practice guidelines/standards in support of quality palliative and end of life care.

C. Maintains data for referral and treatment volumes, patient outcomes related to program services, symptom control tracking, quality improvements, and identified cost savings.

D. Initiates review of the literature to formulate or change policy/procedure at the unit level.

5. Provide for open lines of communication.

A. Keeps the Director informed of: status of patient, staff issues, and other related matters through written reports and/or verbal communication.

B. Promote satisfactory relationships among the unit staff, other departments, and the medical staff.

C. Maintain confidentiality.

D. Channel suggestions, criticism, and questions to appropriate persons.

6. Maintain employment record in accordance to Hospital policy.

A. Professional manner

B. Complies with attendance policies.

C. Adhere to acceptable dress code.

7. Adhere to all local, state, and federal regulations.

A. Maintain safe environment.

B. Report unsafe conditions.

C. Review medication error incident reports.

D. Adhere to wage and hour regulations.

E. Ensure proper documentation for employees.

F. Maintain requirements for accreditation.

G. Maintain Quality Assurance and CQI requirements.

8. Follows North Oaks Health System's Compliance Programs and all Federal and State regulatory guidelines.

9. Is able to demonstrate competency in age specific criteria as applicable to job scope.

10. Each patient and situation will present varied and individual clinical solutions requiring professional judgment and adaptation. Policies set forth for clinical caregivers, and associated support personnel, are a resource for guiding and assisting the caregiver in his/her practice patient care decisions and actions. By themselves, however, the recommendations and steps found in policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines may not allow the caregiver to effectively adapt to the unique characteristics and challenges a patient or situation can present, or to other potential extenuating circumstances. Policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines are not intended to replace or supersede the responsibility of the caregiver to exercise critical judgment skills gained from training and experience to best serve the patient and the situation effectively. Nor are they intended to alone define the standard of care for all patient and clinical situations a caregiver will confront.

The caregiver should consider the recommended actions outlined in a policy, procedure, protocol, and/or guideline in exercising professional judgement. Staff must then evaluate the circumstances presented, and responsibly modify or supplement these recommendations when necessary to meet the individual, unique needs of a patient or situation.