Here is what our nursing staff say about why they work at Hospice of McDowell County.

Our goal is to hire onto our PRN team, then as temporary or permanent positions open, we will look to our PRN staff first for filling these positions.

PRN RN Position Work Hour Summary is listed below. These hours are the opportunities available for scheduling PRN shifts.

Successful candidates for the 8-5 PRN will attend clinical report each morning for patient/family updates, plus items listed below.

Successful candidates for the on-call shifts will arrive around 4 p.m. (weekend on-call perform phone call reports) for clinical update on all patients and new admissions; plus items listed below.

HOSPICE OF McDOWELL COUNTY, INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Created: 09/23/97
Reviewed: 04/28/09
Revised: 04/14/09
TITLE:           ON-CALL REGISTERED NURSE (Non-Exempt)
MISSION:      Is dedicated to inspiring hope for those facing end-of-life through compassionate quality care, education and services.
PRIMARY FUNCTION:
The On-Call Nurse is responsible for  providing skilled nursing and supportive care on an hourly and/or per visit basis in patients’ homes in accordance with the attending physician’s orders and plan of care. The On-Call Nurse is also responsible for the availability of weekday, evening, weekend, and holiday on-call duty.  As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the On-Call Nurse works under the general direction of the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC), Medical Director and/or the attending physician, and the Interdisciplinary Team in the provision of skilled nursing assessment, planning, and care in order to maximize the comfort and health of patients and families consistent with Hospice of McDowell County policies and procedures.
SUPERVISOR:   Patient Care Coordinator
QUALIFICATIONS:
-- Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina;
-- Minimum of two years of varied work experience as a Registered Nurse and preferable one of the
   two years in a Home Health setting;
--Active patient contact within the past three years;
-- North Carolina Drivers License;
-- Available vehicle for transportation;
-- Demonstrated ability to assess and respond to the needs of patients and families in various
    settings;
-- Skilled in nursing practice, able to cope with family emotional stress and tolerant of individual
    lifestyles;
-- Ability to make meaningful observations and write comprehensive accurate reports;
-- Available to work shifts on-call, and provide Continuous Care.
Requirements
Minimum requirement is commitment of:
--  Availability and active participation in 24-hour on-call coverage during weekdays, weekends and
     holidays to meet the needs of on-call coverage.
-- Other identified situations that the PRN On-Call Staff may be called for potential work
    opportunities:
     - Continuous care shifts (as continuous care is needed)
     - Hospice of McDowell County, Inc., (HOMC) designated Holiday
     - Daily visits to cover for vacations, sickness and periods of staffing shortage
RESPONSIBILITIES:**

• Identify and meet the needs of patients and families through listening, problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and other various methods;

• Assumes responsibility for weekday, evening, weekends and holidays on call duty as scheduled and consistent with Hospice of McDowell County policies and procedures;
• Demonstrate advocacy for patient by respecting the patient and family, knowing and communicating patient’s rights, immediately reporting suspected abuse, and educating patient and family in how to provide safe care;
• Provide physical care, teaching, support and counseling to patient and /or caregivers when responding to patients/families during on-call time or as requested by the PCC. 
• Care rendered according to patient plan of care;
• Provide appropriate support at time of death and period of bereavement;
• Obtain data on physical, psychological, social and spiritual factors that may influence patient/family health status and incorporate that data into the plan of care;
• Appropriately documents in the patient medical record in a timely manner to meet the individual patient’s plan of care and meets Medicare and other regulatory documentation requirements;
• Initiate communications with attending physicians or Medical Director, and other Hospice staff members and other agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for the patient/family;
• Maintain up to date patient records so that problems, plans, actions and goals are accurately and clearly stated and changes are reflected as they occur;
• Meet with Patient Care Coordinator and Hospice staff to review problems or unique issues from caseloads, share professional support, and exchange feedback aimed toward enhancing professional growth;
• Supervise and document the home health aide’s delivery of care and plan of care every two weeks;
• Inform the Patient Care Coordinator of unusual or potentially problematic patient/family issues;
• Maintain confidentiality of all information relating to Hospice patients/families, including meeting HIPPA regulations;
• Provide appropriate family/caregiver support at time of death and period of bereavement;
• Actively participates in agency orientation and in-service training programs for staff;
• Communicates with Patient Care Coordinator, or designee, by the 15th of each month regarding the availability of days for the next month call calendar;
• Act as quality improvement team members;
• Identify and report areas for improvement and concerns for safety of patients, family and staff;
• Suggest alternative ways of intervening that may improve outcomes based on knowledge and familiarity of situations;
• Recognize that quality improvement is part of everyone’s job responsibilities;
• Be familiar with, and actively participate in performance improvement projects and their outcomes;
• Demonstrate familiarity with and implement agency policies and procedures, as well as rules and regulatory requirements (such as OSHA, Infection Control standards, Safety, Medicare, and other Federal and State Licensing bodies which aid in determining policies);
• Actively participate in coordination of all aspects of patient care, in accordance with current professional standards and practice;
• Participates in ongoing interdisciplinary comprehensive assessment;
• Develops and evaluates the Plan of Care;
• Contributes to patient and family counseling and education;

• Actively participates in QAPI program and hospice sponsored in-service training;
• Accepts other assignments and performs other tasks as assigned or requested by the Patient Care Coordinator, or designee.
• Works efficiently to meet departmental and agency goals and standards;

**Each employee works with patients and family members (or staff/volunteers) as assigned by the supervisor.  An employee may not refuse to provide services based on the patient and/or family members’ (or staff/volunteers’) age, sex, race, color, religion, political affiliation, national origin, handicapping condition or diagnosis
Upon hire I am agreeing to work on-call to meet the needs of the patients, families and the organization.
I am available to work the following, if there is an opportunity (check all that you are available to be called on an as needed basis):

•  HOMC designated Holidays
•  On-Call weekend
•  On-Call weekdays
•  Day Shift for daily visits to cover for vacations, sickness and periods of staffing shortage.
•  Continuous care shifts (as continuous care is needed.) I understand that Continuous Care (Crisis Care) time is offered on a first come basis.

I have read the above job description and understand my responsibilities as an On-Call Nurse.

 

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