Facility: Wellstar West Georgia Hospice

Job Summary:

The RN Clinical Nurse in hospice is a proactive member of an interdisciplinary team of licensed and unlicensed care givers who ensure that patients families and significant others receive individualized high quality, safe patient care at end of life. They provides hands on patient care at the bedside, in various clinical environments within the hospice department and the Wellstar hospitals, that are administered by Nurse Managers and other leaders. The framework for practice is steered by the WellStar Professional Practice Model, 5-Star Nursing and evidence based practice and research. Rn competencies are derived from these models and supported by the WellStar Core Competencies.
It is expected that all RN Clinical Nurses are licensed, knowledgeable and uphold the practice of nursing as outlined by the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the Scope of nursing as outlined by the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the Scope Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the American Nurses Association. As a member of the patient services team, it is expected that the individual upholds the voice of the patient, department and system policies and procedures while supporting service excellence goals.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Performs the initial presentation of hospice services.
Explains palliative approach to care and assesses the patients goals for care, including desire for DNR Discusses hospice benefits provided by payer and the financial responsibility of the patient. Obtains all consents, election statements and determines the patients choice of attending physician. Develops initial Plan of Care. Delivers direct nursing services to the terminally ill patient and supportive services to their family members, with compassion and sensitivity to their physical, social , cultural and spiritual needs.
Performs the Nursing Process (assessment; diagnosis; identification of outcomes; planning; implementation and evaluation) Provides relationship-based patient centered care that is consistent with population specific characteristics (e.g. age, gender, disease, progression toward terminality, etc..) in a manner that adapts service delivery to reflect an understanding of cultural diversity. Always partners with the patient and significant others (as appropriate) keeping the patient and significant others and identified caregivers updated and making the patients goals the focus of the plan of care. Practices using current clinical practice standards and based upon a holistic approach. Documents all care delivered in the EMR with accuracy and according to the timeline demanded by policy and the intervention. (Immediately, within an hour, or within 24 hrs.) Provides ongoing education to patient, caregivers and family members regarding disease progression , sign and symptoms of impending death considering and respecting their anticipatory grief and related practices.
Provides emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family Promotes a safe and peaceful environment Supports the patient and family in meeting end of life goals Follows the patients expressed advance directives Facilitates Medication management and administration
Assesses the patients symptoms and response to medications, responding promptly by obtaining orders to promote maximum comfort for the patient. Obtains medications from the vendor pharmacy and maintains required records Follows WellStar policies and procedures regarding safe administration, documentation, storage and waste of medications. Teamwork and collaboration
Coordinates the delivery and documentation of safe quality patient care that promotes the professional care delivery model. This includes, but is not limited to diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary communication methods (interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, case review, etc.); completion of timely documentation and promotion of a respectful, inclusive clinical environment Develops the Personal Care Plan and supervises the work of the C.N.A. Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment and retention of all healthcare team members. Participates and supports performance improvement inclusive of all stakeholders, research and research utilization to promote safe, quality patient care including initiating and/or leading such activities as well as, promoting an inter/intra-disciplinary process. Professional Development
Completes all initial and ongoing professional competency assessment, required mandatory education, population specific education. Serves as a preceptor and/or or mentor for other professional nurses (and staff or students for all disciplines) to ensure that there is a current and future qualified workforce; modeling the professional practice of nursing and creating a healthy work environment. Upholds all health care system/organizational policies and procedures and clinical competencies put forth by this job description and professional association including legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards ensuring by way of example, such goals as TJC Patient Safety Goals and WellStar Health Systems safety absolutes Participates in data collection, poses relevant clinical questions to advanced evidence based practice. Consults appropriate experts and uses appropriate resources and evidence to address practice questions. Resources and Support
Proactively plans for the care of patients across the continuum in the course of giving direct patient care. Facilitates transfers and discharges from hospice and arranges for patients continued care by providers Participates in the development of protocols and procedures when called upon or through self-initiation in collaboration with care managers and other members of the health care team to achieve best practice outcomes (i.e., decrease in re-admission rates; avoidable days; adverse events; etc.). Supports efficient and effective use of human and material resources.

Required Minimum Education:

Graduate of an accredited/approved school of nursing
Baccalaureate degree in nursing

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):
All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• Reg Nurse (Single State) or RN - Multi-state Compact
• Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):



Required Minimum Experience:

of acute care experience as an RN.

Required Minimum Skills:

Ability to read write and speak the English language, optimize the use of technology to support clinical care and holds basic computer skills;
Strong interpersonal, collaborative skills along with customer service skills required;
Ability to function in a fast paced environment and respond to emergencies in using a decisive, composed and respectful manner;
Possess excellent time management skills;
practices nursing using evidence and analytical skills along with possessing strong critical thinking skills.
Work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary tea