About This Role
This night-shift post on the cardiac ward pairs patient care with mentoring new nurses. The Hospice Nurse plans, organizes, and directs hospice care, focusing on community health education. This role involves building on community resources to plan and direct services that meet the needs of individuals and families in their homes and communities.
Responsibilities
- Complete an initial, comprehensive, and ongoing assessment of the patient and family to determine hospice needs
- Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illnesses
- Provide professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of the nursing process
- Assess and evaluate patient's status by:
- Writing and initiating a plan of care
- Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
- Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary
- Use health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis
- Develop a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions, including the patient and the family in the planning process
- Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician's plan of care
- Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs
- Provide health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan
- Assist the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitate the patient's efforts toward self-sufficiency and optimal comfort care
- Act as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor/Nursing Supervisor and assume responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload
- Complete, maintain, and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient's condition and care given
- Record pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate
- Communicate with the physician regarding the patient's needs and report changes in the patient's condition; obtain/receive physicians' orders as required
- Communicate with community health-related persons to coordinate the care plan
- Teach the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate
- Provide medication, diet, and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognize and utilize opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers
- Work in concert with the interdisciplinary group
- Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient
- Assist the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care
- Work in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice Interdisciplinary Group Members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver