Triage Registered Nurse

About This Role

This nursing role involves assessing patient needs and prioritizing care in a fast-paced hospice environment, primarily evaluating incoming patients via phone or in person to determine the urgency of their medical situation. The position requires quick decision-making skills, clinical expertise, and strong communication abilities to ensure patients receive timely and effective care, while planning, organizing, and directing hospice care according to agency policies and nursing standards.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial verbal assessments of patient and family needs through comprehensive review of concerns voiced
• Develop and implement plans addressing hospice care needs, emphasizing pain management, comfort care, symptom management, and psychosocial aspects
• Prioritize and assign call visits to appropriate staff
• Communicate and coordinate care among interdisciplinary group (IDG) members and external healthcare providers to ensure continuous assessment and implementation of the care plan
• Evaluate and coordinate the need for services provided to the patient and family by the IDG plan of care
• Facilitate the consideration of different levels of care (i.e., inpatient, respite, continuous care) based on patient needs
• Ensure availability of necessary equipment, supplies, drugs, biologicals, and other items for patient care
• Provide education and interventions to support the effective management of the patient's pain and other physical symptoms
• Assess the patient and family's response to intervention and treatment
• Provide education and instructions to the patient and family according to the IDG plan of care
• Direct the services provided by and supervise the LPN/LVN, Hospice Aide, and Homemaker assigned to the patient and family
• Complete accurate and timely documentation of patient and family calls and services provided
• Regularly attend team meetings to communicate continuity of care concerns
• Participate in Administrative on-call duties as defined by the office on-call policy
• Actively participate in the quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) program
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested
• Conform to all applicable Agency policies and procedures
• Participate actively in continuing education and in-services
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information and business trade practices
• Assume accountability for reporting incidents and complaints according to Agency policy

Requirements

• Utilize established protocols and clinical judgment to prioritize patients based on the urgency of their medical needs
• Strong assessment and critical thinking skills