RN Admissions

Hospice of San Joaquin is the oldest not-for-profit hospice of 40 years.  We serve all of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.  We are committed to continuing to be the leader in ensuring the quality of the journey, from a serious illness to the end of life, and to honor our mission by honoring life by ensuring patients and their Caregivers are the focus of everything we do.  We are seeking a Dynamic skilled, self-motivated RN - Admissions who thrives in a fast-paced environment and to support our mission.  This is a Full-Time position, 

POSITION PURPOSE/SUMMARY:
Hospice Admission Nurse evaluates the appropriateness of patients using Medicare requirements for Hospice benefits. May be required to explain legal consents for patient/family and obtain all required consents. Teaches patient and family how to access hospice nurse 24/7. Instructs in proper use of prescribed medications.  Discusses End of Life Care and identifies patient’s needs. Collaborates with physician, pharmacist, DME contractor and administrative staff as required.

1. Evaluate patients for appropriateness for Hospice Medicare Benefit.

2. Provide skilled nursing assessment/delivery of direct care.

3. Work with IDT to develop plan of care.

4. Provide direction for social services, home health aides, and all contracted clinical care providers.

CLINICAL SERVICES:
Ensures that patients/families receive quality palliative and supportive care in the home setting, skilled nursing facility, and assisted living home. When necessary, coordinates care from hospital, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living home to home or another care setting.

1. Using clinical assessment skills, completes the initial nursing assessment; identifies the physical, practical, physiological needs of the patient. Assess patients within regulatory requirements. Perform admission visits and follow up visits in a thorough and complete manner.

2. Works with social services to identify the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of the patient.

3. Develops Plan of Care based on identified needs; Plan of Care reflects a problem solving approach with defined, measurable outcomes. Ensures quality, continuity of care as well as identifying patients goals.  Plan of Care will be shared with assigned RN Case Manager and Home Health Aide Coordinator.

4. Makes recommendations to IDT for action/follow-up of newly referred patients.

5. Maintains up-to-date patient records so that problems, plans, actions and goals are accurately and clearly stated and kept in accordance with Medicare, MediCal, State home health Agency and Joint Commission standards.

6. Collaborates with physicians to determine need for a change of level of care (continuous home care, respite, attendant care, in-patient admission, or discharge from the Hospice Program).

7. Interventions reflect an advanced level of nursing practice and commitment to execution of IDT Plan of Care.

8. Follows universal precautions in delivering patient care.

9. Provides support to families in anticipation of patients expected death with coordination of services with administrative staff, physician, mortuary, pharmacy and DME supplier.

10. Prepares family to plan transition from care giving to bereavement, in coordination with IDT members.

11. Demonstrates creativity in meeting and teaching patient/family needs in the home environment.

12. Uses expert nursing judgment and functions as patient advocate in collaboration with IDT and primary physician, when seeking a change