JOB SUMMARY:

The Registered Nurse Case Manger (RNCM) will provide direct patient care services to hospice patients and supportive care to the patient’s family; manage an interdisciplinary group (IDG) consisting of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and support staff to enhance the quality of hospice care; and case manages all assigned patient clinical records.

MAJOR JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Promotes and practices the Agape/Sage Hospice Care philosophy and mission: To provide the absolute most compassionate, comprehensive and qualified care to people with life-limiting illness in order to serve them through their individual journey with dignity, respect and integrity.
• Assures the highest quality of care is provided and documented in accordance with the Plan of Care (POC).
• Performs the initial and on-going assessment of the patient.
• Helps develop and implement the POC as prescribed by the physician and in conjunction with the other members of the IDG.
• Responsible for the education of the patient, family or other caregivers in relation to needs identified on the POC, including but not exclusive to medication administration, dressing changes, oxygen administration, hospice philosophy and care of the terminally ill patient.
• Works closely with other members of the IDG to provide all-inclusive physical, psychosocial, educational, emotional and spiritual services including bereavement support to the patient and family to achieve the highest quality of care.
• Maintains primary control and professional management of each patient and acts as primary liaison between physician, patient/family and hospice team so as to be fully aware and abreast of all clinical issues, staffing and scheduling concerns.
• Reports any change in the patient’s condition to both the Attending Physician and Hospice Physician.
• Maintains close contact with the patient’s family and/or significant other to provide information, support and continuity of care.
• Maintains communication with facility, group home and private care staff.
• Maintains an accurate and updated medical record, including all IDG notes, POC’s, initial and on-going assessments and any other information pertinent to the care of the patient.
• Performs on-going review and follow-up on assigned patient clinical records to assure quality services are provided, standards of practice are followed, and compliance with policies, procedures and regulatory requirements is met and maintained.
• Practices infection control measures and standard precautions.
• Makes routine supervisory visits of and with all other team members at least monthly.
• Monitors scheduling of all staff.
• Maintains a high level of knowledge pertaining to the management of pain and symptoms in the dying process.
• Participates in the Agape/Sage Hospice Care Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program.
• Attends staff meetings.
• May be requested to participate in agency on-call schedule.
• Consistently promotes Agape/Sage Hospice Care core values.
• Completes Agape/Sage Hospice Care annual training.
• Performs other activities as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Current licensure in the state of residence.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and valid driver’s license.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/KNOWLEDGE:

• Must be able to effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier and cellphone.
• Must have and maintain transportation to be used for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families along with understanding of hospice.
• Ability to apply knowledge of the special needs to hospice patient and families.
• Knowledge of roles of all disciplines providing hospice services.
• Excellent patient assessment skills.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Maintains high standards of integrity and business ethics.
• Conducts self in an honest, ethical manner.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Documentation and program management.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Thorough knowledge of managed care principles, regulatory guidelines (i.e., Medicare, ACHC and human resource) management principles and applicable laws and regulations.
• Abides by Agape/Sage Hospice Care rules, policies and procedures.
• Reports promptly any suspected violation of compliance standards.
• Sensitivity to the impact of life and death issues faced by individuals with terminal illness.
• Ability to support others at a time of crisis.
• Must be able to demonstrate flexibility by performing a variety of tasks.
• Communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Responsible functioning in the workplace, maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact in dealing with co-workers and all members of the hospice team.
• Express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Ability to stoop, bend, kneel or crouch.
• Endure long periods of driving.
• Stand, walk and/or sit for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.
• Ambulate on rough surfaces and climb stairs.
• Lift or move up to 25 lbs. when transporting supplies and lift and turn patients in excess of 50 lbs.

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