Description
General Statement of Duties: The Nurse Liaison (RN) responds to inquiries that are about hospice and enrolls potential patients. The Nurse Liaison increases utilization of hospice and palliative services in the Hospice Inpatient Facility and the community, coordinates care with the primary team, and assists with discharge planning.
Level of Responsibility: Reports to Access Nurse Manager
Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly, Full-Time
Pay Range: $38.37/hour - $47.38/hour
Schedule: Monday-Friday; 10 am - 6:30 pm
Service Area: This position serves our entire service area based on need, including Meritus Hospital and Winchester Medical Center. Must be willing to travel routinely. Mileage is reimbursed.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. *Increases utilization of hospice and palliative services by identified hospitals. Serves as a clinical liaison for hospital staff to identify potential hospice or palliative care referrals and assists with admission to hospice as needed, including the Inpatient Facility.
2. *Collaborate with hospital staff to ensure Hospice General Inpatient care is available to all medically eligible hospitalized patients in a timely manner.
3. *Enrolls patients in the hospice program, as needed. Explains the benefits and challenges of the palliative approach to patient care. Refers patients to the palliative care program as appropriate.
4. *Maintains current relationships and investigates future opportunities to facilitate referrals and increase utilization of hospice services within assigned hospitals through rounding and other activities, such as educational presentations.
· Visits hospitals daily to coordinate individual patient needs as well as educate about services.
· Rounds with case managers, social workers, department heads and others to build strong working relationships, resolve issues and plan for immediate and future care needs.
5. *Takes referrals from clinicians in the hospital. Gathers pertinent information and promptly communicates information to the Access department.
6. *Acts as resource regarding pain and symptom management, hospice protocol, patient/family autonomy, state, and federal regulations. Maintains current hospice expertise related to job performance.
7. *Acts as hospice nurse for hospitalized hospice patients.
8. *Assesses the physical and safety needs of patients and families as they relate to nursing problems for establishing the plan of care.
9. *Reports abuse and neglect to the appropriate authority following organizational policy.
10. *Establishes and maintains good working relationships with the patient and family, the attending physician, coworkers, and outside agencies.
11. Consults with hospice Medical Director or designee regarding medical eligibility of patient and covered medications for admission to hospice services. Documents consultation with supporting medical data in patients’ electronic chart.
12. In consultation with the Access Nurse Manager, assists with phone triage, assessment of patient needs, patient visits as needed.
13. *Educates patients/family regarding the progression of disease, pain and symptom management, safety, physical components of care, stages of dying, and hospice philosophy.
14. *Establishes the nursing and hospice aide components of the plan of care with the consent of the patient and family.
15. *Documents nursing assessment and all other patient-related information.
16. Maintains communication with case manager regarding significant patient issues and needs.
17. Provides payer updates and changes to case management.
18. Communicates with appropriate care team to provide continuity of care.
19. Provides updates to physicians and pharmacies.
20. *Serves as a resource to physicians on pain and symptom management.
21. *Arranges, prepares, and conducts educational programs for providers. May utilize additional resources from Hospice staff as needed.
22. Participates in nursing staff meetings, in-services, and staff training to develop and
maintain hospice expertise. Demonstrates competency as a hospice nurse.
23. Refers to the Hospice bereavement program.
24. *Participates in provider related activities that will increase the utilization of hospice care.
25. Complies with the employee standards.
26. Other duties as assigned.
*Denotes essential job functions.
Requirements
Education and Experience:
1. Current West Virginia eNLC Registered Nurse license is required.
2. Minimum of one year nursing experience, home health or medical surgical nursing in an inpatient setting preferred.
3. Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with the patient and family, the attending physician, coworkers, and outside agencies.
4. Must possess strong communication and writing skills/experienced public speaker.
5. Knowledge/experience of hospice/palliative care required.
6. Computer proficiency is required.
7. Provides own transportation, and a license to drive with current liability insurance. Driving record meets Hospice’s insurance company standards.
Physical Qualifications:
1. Ability to transport self to various locations throughout the service area.
2. Ability to get from car to physicians’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes and other places of business throughout service area.
3. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English language.
4. Ability to hear normal conversation in person and via phone.
5. Ability to read normal or condensed print.
6. Ability to lift 50 pounds
Equipment Used: Telephone, electronic equipment, office equipment, medical equipment and supplies used for patient care.