The Registered Nurse - LINC/Virtual Team meets all requirements of a NorthStar Care Community RN and provides professional nursing services or supervises the provision of nursing services to hospice patients in accordance with accepted standards of practice.
Essential Functions:
• Documents all calls and/or contacts and conducts follow-up activities.
• Conducts a thorough problem assessment and identifies needs utilizing video, electronic, and/or telephonic communication using critical thinking skills and all available patient records including organizational clinical guidelines.
• Completes on-going video, electronic communication, and/or telephonic assessment of the impact of the terminal diagnosis on the patient's physical, functional, psychosocial and environmental needs and activities of daily living, including: the risk for pathological grief, cultural and spiritual implications, and verbal and non-verbal communication patterns. Assesses the ability of the caregiver to meet the patient's immediate needs upon each telephone or video contact.
• Provides initial and ongoing patient/family instruction, education and support regarding the disease process, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, and issues of ethical concerns.
• Coordinates and assigns interdisciplinary services/personnel to provide direct patient care when necessary.
• Communicates complete and accurate information to attending physician(s), other team disciplines and other departments in a timely manner.
• Acts as a resource for staff members and orients new staff as needed.
• Proactively problem solves and identifies solutions utilizing critical thinking skills.
• Participates in internal and external education, training, in-services and other activities to develop and promote personal, professional and organizational goals and growth.
• Responds to information requested by third party payers and calls clinical reports to case managers.
• Provides nursing interventions utilizing video, electronic, and/or telephonic communication as a supplement to clinical visits.
• Works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team (IDT) to prioritize and provide patient and family- oriented hospice services. Communicates with the Physician, Social Worker and Spiritual Care Advisor to provide assessment information after the initial visit and with the clinical manager or designee to provide patient/family information, including unusual or potentially problematic issues, as needed.
• Provides end-of-life care including comfort care and symptom management according to NorthStar Care Community indicators.
• Virtually assesses the ability of caregivers to meet patients' immediate needs upon admission and throughout care via telephone, electronic, and/or video communication.
• Documents patient care following established organizational standards of documentation practices, regulatory and license requirements, and submits documentation in accordance with policy.
• Coordinates ordering durable medical equipment and supplies.
• Maintains flexibility to assist various teams in a designated region, in coordination with local clinical staff, to meet patient needs.
• Communicates patient needs clearly with managers, schedulers and clinical staff of various teams in designated region through documentation, phone and approved electronic means.
• Using current processes and technology available, communicates complete and accurate information to attending physician(s), other team disciplines and other departments in a timely manner.
• Evaluates own need for professional, psychosocial, and emotional support and uses identified system(s) to meet the need.
• As requested, participates in the development of care delivery goals, strategic planning, and in individual, team, and organizational process improvement activities and in the development of protocols and standards for hospice practice.
• Utilizes allocated supplies and resources appropriately to ensure business outcomes are met.
• Adjusts to changes in workload and schedules based on changing team priorities.
• Adheres to organizational Code of Conduct, policies, procedures, protocols and processes and all regulatory and legal requirements.
• Adheres to the NorthStar standards to care for every person, every time, 100% of the time.
Qualifications:
• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing with possession of a current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in the State of Michigan.
• Minimum of one (1) to two (2) years of varied nursing experience required; hospice experience preferred.
• Certification in Hospice nursing (CHPN) preferred.
• Must possess strong clinical assessment skills related to hospice eligibility, pain and symptom management and care planning.
• Ability to use technology (hardware and software) required of clinicians in their practice.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment, effective organizational, prioritization and follow-through skills, attention to detail, tact, dependability, emotional intelligence and the ability to promote positive, constructive relationships with communication and collaboration at all levels with the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able to cope with family/caregiver emotional stress, cultural diversity and be tolerant of individual lifestyles.
• The physical and sensory demands of the position include: vision, effective speech and hearing for extensive telephone contact; repetitive motion; standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and stretching; and lifting up to twenty five (25) pounds unassisted.
• Must be able to work variable hours/shifts and/or days, including weekends. Must have the ability to occasionally work extended days, as necessary.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States.