Qualification Requirements
- Graduate of an accredited school of registered nursing; BSN and CHPN preferred.
- Currently licensed as an RN through the Ohio Board of Nursing; must be able to obtain a nursing license in Michigan.
- Minimum 2 years of medical-surgical nursing experience or hospice admissions experience required.
- Has working experience charting in an EMR system, Netsmart system preferred.
- Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Possesses clinical expertise related to critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills.
- Demonstrates strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
- Has the ability to work independently and within an interdisciplinary team.
- Must be a licensed driver with an automobile in good working condition and is insured in accordance with state and agency requirements.
- Must be CPR certified according to the American Heart Association CPR standards.
- Demonstrates the ability to “sell” the benefits of hospice care in a variety of settings.
- Understands the hospice philosophy, principles of death/dying, concepts of pain/symptom management, and adult teaching/learning principles.
Essential Job Responsibilites
- Collaborates with the Outreach Team to identify needs and establish goals for increasing overall awareness and timely use of hospice care and referrals to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
- Establishes strong working relationships with Physicians, Social Workers, Case Managers and other hospital personnel to encourage more timely referrals for palliative care and hospice eligible patients; provides consultation and follows up as requested.
- Participates in providing education and serves as a consultant to hospital medical professionals concerning hospice and palliative care, including pain management, services and reimbursement.
- Determines if patient should be on hospice or palliative care based upon the patient’s goals of care.
- Communicates hospice’s philosophy, goals and services to patients and their families; confirms patient and family goals of care are focused on comfort and are consistent with hospice’s philosophy of care.
- Responds to referrals when an order is written within assigned shift.
- Obtains appropriate documentation to support palliative care services or hospice eligibility.
- Communicates clearly and in a timely manner all patient information to the Hospice physician to determine eligibility for hospice care.
- Communicates clearly and in a timely manner all patient information to the Palliative Care team to initiate the palliative care consult.
- Completes Hospice Physician Certification of Terminal Illness.
- Obtains consent and completes the Hospice Consent and Benefit Election Form with patient/family/DPOAHC/ Guardian as appropriate.
- Communicates outcome of all patient and family interactions, plans for discharge with appropriate hospital personnel.
- Coordinates the completion of the admission process and initiates the appropriate resources for a successful transfer to homecare, ECF or Hospice Inpatient facility.
- Ensures the hospice plan of care is adhered to during in-patient admissions.
- Responsible for learning and utilizing technology made available by the agency to increase efficiency, communication and performance of duties.
- Participates in monthly record review as requested.
- Participates in the agency’s Quality Improvement program.
- Attends staff meetings and completes all mandatory training.
- Holds in strictest confidence all patient information and discloses information and data only to persons authorized by Hospice.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
