Registered Nurse – Flex Team/Admissions

Primary Responsibilities:

• Promotes Community Hospice as the preferred provider of hospice care in our service area with ability to “sell” the benefits of hospice care, resolving patient/family objections.
• Provides information about Community Hospice services and philosophy to patients, caregivers, physicians, LTC administrators and directors of nursing, and the community.
• Ability to implement Medicare Local Coverage Determination to assess patients for Hospice eligibility. 
• Collects and communicates appropriate information to/from admission physician to determine hospice eligibility
• Collects and communicates appropriate information from referring and consulting physicians to help determine hospice eligibility.
• Performs a physical assessment, identifies immediate needs, to include spiritual, functional, psychosocial and financial needs.
• Applies appropriate nursing interventions and documents concisely in electronic medical record.
• Facilitates Admission to Community Hospice.
• Provides emotional support to patients and families/caregivers with compassion and empathy.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patients and families in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Assess for patient risk and safety issues per Community Hospice policies.
• Develops patient’s initial plan of care based on identified immediate needs. Obtains and communicates physician orders for Medications, DME and special treatments to the care team and in the electronic medical record.
• Demonstrates knowledge of medications appropriate for end of life care, side effects and adverse interactions.
• Assess, communicate and obtain orders from Community Hospice physicians to ensure patient comfort.
• Arranges coordinates and supports needed change in level of patient care. 
• Facilitates transfers from the current level of care to next level of care based on Medicare Conditions of Participation.
• Complies with appropriate professional code of ethics in delivering services to patients and families
• Professional development of self towards resource for end of life care, with knowledge, understanding and ability to communicate Medicare Conditions of Participation, Local Coverage Determination, State of Florida Regulations and specific insurance benefits. 
• Provides patients and/or family, Admissions Staff, and Community Partners consultation and information regarding Health Care Surrogate, Health Care Proxy and other Advance Directives.
• Evaluates team members (RNs, LPNs, PASS) to ensure policies, procedures are followed and gives feedback to managers.
• Responsible for education and mentoring of new staff members
• Builds, develops and maintains relationships with referring physicians, area social workers, discharge planners and community agency staff in order to network and facilitate admission and placement of patient. 
• Educates medical community on what are hospice appropriate referrals
• Educates medical community on the patient/family benefits of early referrals
• Cultivates, develops and enhances existing relationships with physicians, hospital, nursing homes and assisted living facilities
• Represents Community Hospice professionally at all times through care and/or services provided to all clients
 

Required Licenses/Certifications: 
• Registered Nurse, current licensure in the state of Florida.
• CPR certification, current.
• State of Florida driver’s license with driving record acceptable to Community Hospice insurance carrier; reliable transportation.
• Level II AHCA (Agency for Healthcare Administration) successful background screen
• CHPN certification a plus

Education/Experience:
Typical qualifications would be equivalent to any combination of education and experience that provides the required skills and knowledge for successful performance:
• Possession of a degree from a diploma nursing program and/or two (2) year program; or
• Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.
• Two years minimum experience in hospital or LTC setting required; ICU or ER experience a plus.
 

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