Overview

Good Shepherd Hospice is seeking a compassionate candidate for a Registered Nurse Case Manager serving patients and their families in Springfield and surrounding communities. The RN provides nursing assessment, planning and care to maximize the comfort and health of patients and families. The RN responds to all phone calls promptly and appropriately, makes patient visits as necessary and completes after hours admissions and deaths as needed.

Previous experience in hospice, home health, or geriatrics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receives patient assignments from the Patient Care Manager or Case Manager. Initiates communication with attending physicians, hospice staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient/family.
• Cultivates communication and bereavement skills.
• Maintains regular communication with the attending physician concerning patient/family care.
• Contacts families of new patient assignment, maintains regular communication as requested or desired by family.
• Obtains data on physical, psychological, social and spiritual factors that may influence patient/family health status and incorporate that data into the Plan of Care.
• Maintains up to date patient records so that problems, plans, actions and goals are accurately and clearly stated and changes are reflected as they occur. Turn paperwork into office as required by Medicare and Good Shepherd Hospice policies and procedures.
• Instructs the patient and caregiver:
• How to administer medication, recognizing side effects, and adverse reactions.
• How to perform personal care and oral hygiene.
• How to assist in lifting, moving, ambulation and exercise.
• Disaster/Safety Management.
• How to prepare for the events preceding death.
• Informs the Patient Care Manager of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues.
• Attends the Hospice team meetings and other patient conferences, including care plan meetings, as deemed necessary by the Patient Care Manager.
• Provides appropriate support at time of death.
• Shares in providing 24-hour, seven days a week coverage to patients and families.
• Evaluates hospice aides every two weeks.
• Evaluate LPN at a minimum of one time per month.
• Through individualized studies, learn and develop understanding of hospice philosophy.
• Become proficient in pain management through individualized reading, in services or seminars.
• All other task assigned.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse currently licensed in the state in which the care is provided.
• Previous experience in hospice, home health, geriatrics or general medical/surgical nursing.
• Demonstrated commitment to the hospice philosophy of care.