Homecare RN

NEW AND ENHANCED SALARY SCALES AND DIFFERENTIALS

Department: Home Health Care

Position Summary: Coordinates and case manages total care of Home Care/Hospice patients, instructs and supervises Home Health Aides.

Education: Diploma or Associates Degree in Nursing. BSN preferred

Experience:

• One year medical/surgical experience in hospital setting or home care experience is preferred.
• Good physical assessment and documentation skills.
• Ability to be self-directed and work independently.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and access to use of an automobile.
• Job requires extensive walking, lifting, crouching, stooping, reaching, kneeling, stair climbing viewing of handwritten documents, driving and phone use.
• Responsibilities include making home visits in various areas during inclement weather and exposure to variable environmental conditions in the home setting.

Certification: Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey

Essential Functions of the Job:

• The ability to comprehend spoken and written English, to communicate with clarity, work independently with non-combative and consistent behavior, good assessment and documentation skills, good technical procedure skills and/or willingness to learn ability to interact with a mixed patient population.
• Performs initial and ongoing physical, psychosocial environmental assessment of Home Care patients.
• Develops an appropriate Home Care plan of care for each patient to include: identification of nursing diagnoses, appropriate nursing interventions, identification of goals with appropriate time frames, referrals to other disciplines and/or community resources, suitable discharge plan and evaluation of care at discharge.
• Explains all services to patients and anticipated visit patterns and length of time services will continue, and understands patients’ rights.
• Involves patient, family and/or caregiver in the plan of care, identification of goals, and discharge plan.
• Assists patient, family and/or caregiver in obtaining durable medical equipment and supplies essential to care.
• Collaborates with referral sources to identify patients’ needs, and obtain pertinent information needed to develop nursing care plan.
• Arranges for foreign language of sign language interpreter for patients if the need arises.
• Observes and records signs and symptoms of a disease process, reports changes in the patient’s physical and/or emotional condition and respond to the physician treatment and disciplinary team members.
• Performs technical procedures within the scope of the Board of Nursing Registered Nurse licensure standards and home care policies.
• Obtains signed consent forms prior to the initiation of services.
• Completes documentation on a timely basis and appropriately documents vital signs, measurements, nursing interventions, treatments, patient responses, admissions, assessments, narratives, flow sheets, recertifications and discharges as per Home Care policy.
• Communicates with the Nurse Manager/Director and other health team members and social agency personnel in the planning, implementing, evaluating and coordinating of services to the patient and family in order to insure completeness and continuity of services.
• Encourages and supports patient and family/caregiver self-direction and independence while providing needed services and facilitating of alternate community resources.
• Serves as the case manager in multi-disciplinary cases and coordinates total patient care.
• Completes home Health Aide assignment sheets and instructs and supervises the activities of Home Health Aides.
• Performs patient and family/caregiver teaching related to diagnosis and treatment.
• Maintains a case load with productivity in compliance with agency standards, (1 FTE=25 visits/week).
• Attends nursing staff meetings and in-services as scheduled.
• Carries out responsibilities efficiently and effectively in patient care and non-patient care areas.
• Promptly reports and keeps manager informed of patient specific problems or complaints.
• Identifies personal areas for professional growth and participates in continuing education programs.
• Participates in mandatory rotation for the on-call and weekends per Home Care policy.
• Incorporates the physiological and developmental age of patients into the overall plan for the delivery of patient care.
• Maintains and respects confidentiality.
• Demonstrates compliance with the Hospital and home care dress code policy by appearing well groomed, wearing ID badge while on duty and maintaining a professional appearance.
• Observes Hospital policy concerning Fire and Safety regulations, Infection Control Standards. and other rules governing conduct while at work.
• Demonstrates a commitment to work schedule by timely reporting on and off duty and demonstrating good attendance.
• Provides proper notification in advance for absence and tardiness.
• Understands and participates in home care Performance Improvement Plan and process.
• Provides care and services to reflect a commitment to the HNH Mission Statement.
• Accepts and completes additional responsibilities as directed by management