Registered Nurse Triage Nurse - Hospice (PRN - Weekends)

Per Diem Hospice position REQUIRING availability for every Saturday & Sunday 8am-6:30pm.

Prior Hospice experience a plus.

SUMMARY:

The RN Triage Nurse in the Hospice schedule is to work after-hours and plans and delivers care to patients utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, interventions, implementation, and evaluation; and effectively interacts with patients, families, caregivers and other interdisciplinary team members while maintaining standards of professional nursing and clinical competency.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Responsible for triaging issues and visiting terminally ill patients and families as needed. The After Hours Nurse utilizes teaching, assessment, and intervention skills to provide comfort care and maximize patients' and families' quality of life.

Assist patients, family members, or other clients with concern and empathy; respect confidentiality and privacy; and communicate courteously and respectfully.

Provide direct care to patients as prescribed in the Plan of Care in order to maintain the highest level of comfort and quality of life, and assuming primary responsibility for case management.

Instructs the patient and caregiver on how to administer medication and recognize side effects, perform personal care and oral hygiene, assist in lifting, moving, ambulation, and prepare for the events preceding death.

Document accurate and ongoing assessment of patient status via electronic medical record (EMR) software. Document patient care reflecting nursing interventions, patient response to care, patient needs, problems, capabilities, limitations, and progress toward goals. Documentation includes evidence of appropriate patient/significant other teaching, and the understanding of these instructions is noted in the medical record. 

Be available, when possible, to meet a patient/family's need for continuous care during a crisis.

Minimize non-productive time and fill slow periods with activities per the organization’s needs.

Supervise and maintain ongoing effective communication with other hospice personnel involved with patient care. This may involve formal and informal team meetings.

Knowledge of and availability to perform patient intakes, admissions, and information visits as needed, including an explanation of the hospice benefit/Medicare, complete physical assessment, completion of all pertinent paperwork, consents, and communication of new patient status to the hospice team. 

Performs other duties as assigned, consistent with skills and training and the agency's mission and goals.

Orients, instructs, and educates assigned personnel.

Adheres to and supports team members in exhibiting TMCH values of integrity, community, compassion, and dedication.

Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values, policies and standards.

Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Graduation from a qualified, nationally-accredited nursing program.

EXPERIENCE: Three (3) years of related experience, preferably in an emergency room or primary care setting. Additional education or experience with common medications used in primary care is desirable.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: Current RN licensure permitting work in the State of Arizona and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Fingerprint Card required within 3 months of hire.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

·         Knowledge of direct patient care and emergency care procedures and techniques, tools, and responses required to ensure optimal patient care.

·         Knowledge of exam indicators, contraindications and patient preparation.

·         Skill in communicating in a clear and concise manner with staff involved in patient care, and physicians to ensure the proper care of patients.

·         Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

·         Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.

·         Ability to listen and accurately interpret others’ communication or instructions to take appropriate action.

·         Ability to speak and communicate effectively.

·         Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

·         Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

·         Familiarity with triage tools such as Barton Schmitt Thompson is a plus.

·         Skill in utilizing an electronic medical record.