Registered Nurse

Job Description

Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is seeking a Registered Nurse to join our team in Newton, NJ. The RN Case Manager will perform ongoing physical and psychosocial assessments of hospice patients, explain and interpret patients' rights, collaborate with the IDT, provide patient/family teaching, administer medications, and maintain chart documentation.

Responsibilities

• Explain, interpret, and coordinate patients' rights and advanced directives; explain Medicare Hospice Benefit when indicated.
• Perform ongoing physical and psychosocial assessments of hospice patients.
• Follow established plan of care for each patient and report observations to team leader or primary nurse.
• Collaborate with IDT with regards to new nursing diagnoses and need for changes in plan of care.
• Instruct and supervise the activities of hospice aides/LPN staff.
• Assist patient/family in obtaining durable medical equipment and supplies essential to care.
• Observe and record signs and symptoms of disease process.
• Communicate with the physician, family, and other health team personnel to report changes in the patient's condition and identify patient needs.
• Perform patient/family teaching; utilize teaching tools and handouts; document all teaching and patient response.
• Facilitate and support patient and family self-direction and independence.
• Prepare and administer medications according to policy and document same.
• Provide support and relief for the primary care person while participating in Hospice 'at-home respite@ program and provide direct care to the patient.
• Complete chart documentation within 48 hours.
• Document vital signs, measurements, nursing interventions, treatments, and patient responses; complete flow sheets, narratives, and verbal orders, as per agency policy.
• Maintain a caseload with productivity in compliance with agency standards.
• Communicate with the Nursing Supervisor and other health team members in the planning, implementing, evaluating, and coordinating of services to the patient and family to ensure completeness and continuity of services.
• Rotate through the on-call system as scheduled for scheduled revisits.
• Incorporate the physiological and developmental age of patients into the overall plan for the delivery of patient care.
• Maintain appropriate infection control practices.
• Hold in strictest confidence all patient information and disclose information and data only to persons authorized by patient/family/representative or Hospice personnel.
• Participate in all required in-service education programs and meetings; participate in 9 out of 12 nursing meetings annually.
• Demonstrate compliance with the dress code policy by appearing well-groomed, wearing ID badge while on duty, and maintaining a professional appearance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Strong nursing assessment and documentation skills.
• Clinical knowledge to support the dying process.
• Ability to serve as a resource to patients and families during times of high stress and volatility.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to comprehend the spoken and written English language, to communicate with clarity both verbally and in writing.
• Well organized to manage patient/family needs, provide clinical and oversight of the inpatient Hospice operation.
• Proficiency in operating a computer, including a working knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook) and an electronic medical record.

Education and Experience

Required Education: Diploma, Associate, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing; BSN preferred. Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey; licensure in Pennsylvania if practicing in PA.

Preferred Education: CPR certification preferred.

Required Experience: Minimum one-year adult, pediatric, or medical/surgical clinical experience.

Preferred Experience: Prior home care or hospice experience preferred.