Registered Nurse Hospice

Job Summary

Required Qualifications

• •Current professional nurse licensure to practice in PA
• •Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing
• •Current active license to practice nursing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• •Two years' experience as a professional nurse in nursing practice or previous community health and/or Hospice care as a professional nurse
• •Valid driver's license issued by the applicable state of residency
• •Evidence of auto liability insurance with at least the state-minimum coverage limits
• •Good physical and mental health
• •Visual and auditory acuity required to provide comprehensive nursing care
• •Functional capacity to perform heavy work (including lifting 100 lbs occasionally and 50 lbs frequently)
• •Functional capacity to perform medium, light and sedentary work
• •Functional capacity to stoop (bending at the waist) and crouch (stooping and bending at the knees) frequently
• •Functional capacity to handle (grasping) frequently
• •Functional capacity to finger (fine manipulation) occasionally
• •Ability to accept and to utilize supervision
• •Ability to exercise tact, initiative and good judgment in dealing with people
• •Knowledge of and ability to apply Hospice care principles
• •Knowledge of principles of social service and counseling especially as they relate to death and dying
• •Comprehensive knowledge of professional nursing theory and ability to apply it to the community health setting
• •Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to patients, families, physicians and related persons
• •Ability to instruct nonprofessionals in the care and treatment of the physically and emotionally ill
• •Ability to prepare neat, timely, accurate and concise records and reports
• •Ability to assess, to plan, to evaluate and to implement nursing care with attention to the special needs of the agency
• •Ability to determine eligibility for admission
• •Ability to formulate initial care plan according to the patient's condition
• •Ability to collaborate with members of the interdisciplinary team to assure appropriate care planning
• •Ability to communicate with the patient's physician and/or hospice Medical Director, both orally and in writing as required by the patient's condition and agency policy
• •Ability to cooperate with the Volunteer Coordinator and be available to hospice volunteers for counsel, advice and training when dealing with the patients and families
• •Ability to keep informed of current changes and trends affecting Hospice care and professional nursing functions
• •Ability to carry primary responsibility for providing comprehensive nursing care, health teaching, guidance and supervision to the individual and family
• •Ability to consider psychosocial, environmental, spiritual and financial needs
• •Ability to supervise patient care given by LPNs and/or HHAs
• •Ability to maintain and use patient clinical records, reports and other written communications according to agency policy and directives
• •Ability to ensure documentation is timely, accurate and clearly outlines the goals and plans with emphasis on the family oriented approach to patient care
• •Ability to record contact with physicians and other agencies needed
• •Ability to collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop, implement, and evaluate appropriate bereavement plans of care for families/significant others
• •Ability to demonstrate competency in the assessment, range of treatment, knowledge of growth and development and communication appropriate to the age of the patient treated
• •Ability to keep abreast of trends and developments in nursing practice
• •Knowledge of the use of community resources
• •Ability to travel to clinics and/or office errands in extreme cold and heat, wet and/or humid conditions, snow, ice and/or fog
• •Ability to work in an inside office environment and patient homes
• •Ability to work outside in extreme cold and heat, wet and/or humid conditions, snow, ice and/or fog
• •Ability to be exposed to contagious disease, road driving and domestic pets
• •Ability to work full-time day shift or part-time weekend afterhours
• •Ability to work in Bethlehem, Monroe, Carbon/Schuylkill areas

Desired Qualifications

• •BSN