Company Name: HospiceCare
Location: Pittsfield, MA

The primary nurse helps coordinate and administer hospice care for patients, families and caregivers through the utilization of hospice resources. The primary nurse is experienced in nursing with an emphasis on community health education and experience. The primary nurse utilizes hospice and community resources to help coordinate and drive services through a plan of care to meet the needs of patients and families.

Full-time 32-40 hours, or part-time nights and weekends.

Essential Job Functions:

• Complete an initial assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs.
• Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary changes as patient’s status and needs change.
• Utilize health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. (Patient and family should be involved in the planning process)
• Initiate appropriate preventative and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician’s plan of care.
• Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing related needs.
• Provide health care instructions to patient and family as appropriate per assessment needs.
• Assist the patient with activities of daily living and facilitate the patient’s efforts toward self- sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Act as case manager when assigned by Nursing Supervisor and assume responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned case load.
• Complete, maintain and submit accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care. Record pain and symptom management changes and/or outcomes as appropriate.
• Point of Service documentation is an expectation of all clinical personnel for quality care, accuracy, and communication standards.  The clinician is expected to appropriately document at Point of Service, have timely synchronization of patient data & effectively communicate with the Patient Care Team.
• Communicate with physician regarding patient needs and changes. Obtain physicians’ orders as required.
• Working with all members of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team, provide self-care teaching and instruction to patients and caregivers, which includes safe medication techniques and dietary instructions ordered by the physician.   Provide and maintain a safe environment for the patient.
• Work in cooperation with families and caregivers and other members of the Interdisciplinary Team to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the patients, families and caregivers.
• Attend IDT meetings.
• Assume responsibility for personal growth and development to maintain in improve professional knowledge and skills through continuing education and in-services.
• Part of the on-call rotation as defined in the attached procedures for on-call responsibilities.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications:

• (Minimum qualifications will be considered required unless specifically stated otherwise)

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) to two (2) year’s experience in health care.
• Experience in a hospice care preferred.
• Experience in acute care in an institutional setting preferred.
• Experience in homecare preferred.
• Understands hospice philosophy, and issues of death/dying.

 

Education and Training:

• (Acquired through formal education, outside study, training on jobs of lesser degree, or by any combination of these. May be expressed in terms of formal educational equivalents):
• An Associate’s Degree in Nursing is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing preferred.

 

License, Certification & Registration:

• Possesses and maintains current CPR Certification.
• Current Massachusetts licensure: Registered Nurse
• Valid driver’s license
• Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Certification preferred

 

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.  Strong observation skills and problem solving skills.

 

Working Conditions:

• Uniform / Dress Requirements (Beyond those requirements outlined within Policy No. C:3- 015.1):None
  Working Conditions:
• May be exposed to extremes of heat and cold in all weather conditions. Must drive in various weather conditions on roads in varying repair.
• May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstances. May be exposed to/occasionally exposed to patient elements. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Handles emergency or crisis situations. Travel required. OSHA exposure category:
• OSHA exposure category:
  Category I ― Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues.
  Category II ―Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues, but employment may require unplanned Category I tasks.
  Category III ― Position includes tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues; would not be required to perform Category I tasks.

 

To apply, if interested, please submit resume to:

HR Director
877 South St., Ste1
Pittsfield, MA

or, email chunt@bhs1.org