POSITION DETAILS

Full-time with benefits; 80 hours per 2-week pay period, Days 8a-430p; Hospice and/or management experience preferred.

JOB SUMMARY
 
The Hospice Coordinator participates as a member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (Physician, Nurse, Social Worker, and Chaplain) to provide holistic care to hospice patients and to their families.    Assessment and reassessments from the Interdisciplinary Group and input from the patient and family are used to formulate a Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Plan of Care to address problems and meet identified needs and goals of the hospice patient and family.  The Hospice Coordinator assists with the implementation and on-going coordination of this plan of care, may provide direct nursing care, and supervises the care provided by nursing staff and volunteers. The Hospice Coordinator assists team members in evaluating the effectiveness of the plan of care and patient/family satisfaction with the hospice program and the services provided.  The Coordinator works to ensure continuity of hospice care in all settings where it occurs.  A high level of clinical, communication, management and coping skills are needed and used to manage symptoms, teach staff and supervise staff, support the hospice patient and family, and evaluate the plan of care and progress toward goals.
 
MAJOR JOB FUNCTION

Participates as a member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group to plan and provide holistic care to the hospice patient and family.

1. Provides nursing input towards the initial and updated interdisciplinary plans of care for clients and families. Completes hospice chart audits to assess the adequacy of the plan of care.  Advocates for necessary positive changes in interventions and the plan of care to meet identified goals.
2. Supervises the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Interdisciplinary Team interventions.  Participates in bi-weekly team meetings providing leadership and nursing expertise to facilitate problem solving and the delivery of team support in a productive timely manner.   
3. Maintains contact as indicated with hospice Social Worker, Chaplain, Physician, Nursing personnel and Volunteers for collaboration to provide holistic care.  Mentors hospice staff to use the full hospice team for optimum patient care and economical use of resources.
4. Provides nursing input and collaborates to determine the need for special care (continuous care, inpatient respite or acute care, or the need for transfer to facility or Serenity House) and facilitates and assists in a smooth transition from one location or level of care to another.

May provide direct nursing care and support to meet the special care and bereavement needs of child, adolescent, adult, geriatric hospice patient and family.

1. When needed responds positively and promptly to hospice referrals.  Assists referral source and patient to determine eligibility; consults with team as needed to accomplish a timely admission if indicated.  Completes insurance check. Is responsible for obtaining verbal and written certification from Medical Director and Attending and hospice appropriateness and recertification in a timely manner.  Orders needed equipment, medications; assign's an RN to admit; and notifies other team members.
2. Makes nursing visits to clients as needed to assist or evaluate staff and provide ongoing assessment of the client's condition and caregiver's ability to give care.
3. Is proficient in symptom management and teaches/mentors staff to promptly notify physician in response to patient needs; obtain physician orders and medication per policy and in a timely, cost effective manner.  Advocates the patient's right to be as comfortable as possible with consistent management of physical, emotional, and spiritual discomfort by observing and teaching staff and overseeing the patient's response to the plan of care.
4. Is proficient in medication administration, and drug calculation and conversion and use of the Hospice formulary. Maintains knowledge and competency in the potential for drug/food, drug/drug, and drug/disease interaction for all age groups.
5. Is an available resource and ensures competency of nursing staff in symptom management, medication administration, and patient care by developing, teaching, and observing competencies, testing, doing supervisory visits, patient/family interview, and chart review.
6. Develops and maintains relationships with contracted facilities, acting as a liaison between facility and hospice.  Coordinates the provision of hospice services to patients in these facilities.
7. Teaches patient and caregivers and staff. Identifies learning needs, barriers, and appropriate methods of teaching to promote learning.  Gives special attention to the many safety needs of the dying patient in the home environment.  Mentors staff in sensitively explaining the dying process and preparing the patient and family as they indicate a readiness and willingness to learn.  Ensures that teaching materials are available for staff use.
8. Interacts effectively with patients and staff through both oral and written communication and therapeutic presence.  Exhibits effective listening skills and empathetic presence.  Respects patients need for privacy, and to deal with emotional pain, grief, and the dying process as he/she chooses.  Explains cares to the patient and treats patient as an individual with dignity.
9. Oversees an on-call schedule to ensure RN availability 24hours/seven days a week.

Supervises staff and volunteers.

1. Assigns nursing staff as needed and ensures that their schedules and acuities are current.  Oversees staff caseloads, visit frequency and productivity.  Monitors work hours to control occurrence of overtime.
2. Monitors Serenity House, nursing assistant, and volunteer assignment sheets for accuracy, completeness and update as needed.
3. Builds staff relationships through rounding, recognition and staff development.
4. Counsels and disciplines staff in accordance with organizational policy.
5. Oversees clinical supervision of nursing personnel, home health aides, and Serenity House staff.  Assist the Hospice and Palliative Care Director to conduct written annual performance evaluations. Respects staff individuality and differences.  Focuses on positive Team performance and functioning utilizing staff strengths and differences.

Documents and maintains data on the patient record.

1. Ensures charting is completed accurately in a timely manner.  Monitors and teaches safety and confidentiality of the medical record.
2. Supervises the maintenance of the hospice medical record assuring accuracy, completeness and compliance with licensing regulations, certification standards, legal and ethical standards.

Continuously assesses and evaluates the patients and families satisfaction and acceptance of hospice services and staff's performance.

1. Sees complaints as an opportunity for improvement and documents as appropriate in Clarity and Performance Manager any complaint and resolution of the complaint and staff performance issues.
2. Promptly notifies the Hospice Director of inability to satisfy the hospice customer or correct problems that caused a complaint.
3.  Promotes and contributes to a positive, problem-solving environment. Maintains a professional attitude and observes proper ethics. Reviews patient/family/physician/facility satisfaction surveys and uses feedback to make program improvements.
4. Assists with collection of hospice quality improvement and regulatory data and reports results to Hospice Director.
5. Is familiar with and assists hospice Director to ensure compliance with JOINT COMMISSION, Medicare, State, and hospital regulations.  Makes suggestion for appropriate addition/changes to policy and procedure. 

 Is committed to the practice of professional hospice nursing.

1. Keeps current on professional nursing practice and care of the terminally ill by reading journals and attending inservices on aspects of palliative care.
2. Attends 100% of mandatory meetings, Hospice Staff/QI meetings, and Hospice Team Meetings unless excused by the Director.  Views video/reads minutes of meetings not attended.  Documents all education completed in education record.  
3. Assures adherence to ethical and legal standards of the agency.  Is aware of and nursing practice is congruent with the Tomah Memorial Mission and Values.
4. Does not exceed the authority of the registered nursing license and management position  and is aware of and follows Tomah
5. Memorial/Hospice Touch policy and procedure.
6. Assists in the orientation and education of others.  Identifies need for staff education and assists in the      development of inservice programs for the Team.  Provides teaching, inservice to staff.  Gives presentations or participates in cooperative community educational opportunities - i.e. health fair, speaking to community groups, etc.
7. Acts as a role model, resource, mentor, and teacher as appropriate and needed. Fosters professionalism and staff development and satisfaction.
8. Displays behaviors, by actions and verbalization that reflect an acceptance of the hospice/palliative work standards.  Maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and families and seeks direction when boundaries become blurred or questionable.  Is open to change and a positive change agent.  Takes ownership and responsibility for their actions, how they impact others and the provision of patient care, and respects the right of the entire team to have a welcoming, safe, and positive work environment. 

Recognizes personal need for support and demonstrates self-care behaviors.  Notifies Hospice Director, Social Worker, or Chaplain when assignment becomes emotionally draining for counseling and additional support.

1. Has a personal plan for self-care and stress management.
2. Uses open honest communication to verbalize needs and conflict resolution.
3. Attends hospice retreats.  Takes time to debrief with other staff members and give and receive support. 
4. Demonstrates proficiency in regards to the computer documentation of patient cares and any other related computerized patient information/documentation.
5. Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Behaves in a manner consistent with hospital customer service program.
2. Treats co-workers and customers as appropriate.  Is courteous and helpful in all customer contacts.
3. Meets hospital and departmental dress code and hygiene guidelines.
4. Is familiar with dress code/uniform requirements for department.
5. Dresses consistently in the appropriate attire in respect to position at hospital.
6. Meets JOINT COMMISSION and hospital educational standards as required.
7. Is present and prepared for work as scheduled.
8. Demonstrates creativity and initiative in job.
9. Contributes, develops, supports and/or carries out new ideas and methods in cooperation with co-workers and supervisors.
10. Is self-motivated.
11. Demonstrates support for and ability to work as part of a team on achieving departmental and organizational goals.
12. Develops positive working relationships, is receptive to and acts upon input from other team members and departments and is willing and able to compromise as needed.
13. Demonstrates organizational skills and effective use of time.
14. Communicates effectively.
15. Able to express ideas/opinions, uses appropriate congruent communications methods.
16. Deals with co-workers and customers openly and honestly.
17. Is receptive and attentive to communication/feedback from co-workers and customers.
18. Adheres to strict customer confidentiality standards, recognizing that even acknowledgment of privileged information is prohibited.
19.  Displays positive teamwork and leadership qualities so he/she may serve as an example to others.
20. Supports and complies with the National Patient Safety Goals and quality improvement initiatives.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Graduation from an accredited school of nursing, BSN required.
2. Current licensure to practice as a Registered nurse in the state of Wisconsin with at least two years RN clinical experience, preferably with hospice and management experience.
3. Current certification or willingness to become BLS and CHPN certified.
4. Must have access to insured vehicle and have current and valid WI Driver's License.

 
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
2. Excellent human relation skills as demonstrated by the ability to interface positively with all customers and employees.
3. Must acquire the knowledge and maintain established competency levels to perform essential professional nursing practice.
4. Must have the ability to work with frequent interruptions, under stress, with minimal supervision, and to exercise initiative and judgment in analyzing, organizing, planning, prioritizing, scheduling and coordinating work with others.
5. Needs to possess a high level of intelligence, integrity, sense of responsibility and ability to comprehend and analyze details.
6. Knowledge of theory, principles, techniques and practice of professional nursing; of scientific principles and nursing research; of preparation, administration, and actions of medications; of treatments and medical procedures; of counseling and teaching techniques; of medical equipment as it relates to patient care.
7. Ability to operate and handle many kinds of complex equipment.
8. Must have proficient computer skills with the ability to operate within a Windows environment.
9. Ability to demonstrate clinical competence and maintain current knowledge in caring for children, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. 
10. Computer/keyboard skills required.  Must have the ability to operate in a Windows environment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

1. Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, and talk and hear.
2. The Hospice Coordinator/Registered Nurse is frequently required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms.  The Hospice Coordinator/Registered Nurse is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and smell.
3. The Hospice Coordinator/Registered Nurse must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
4. Good hearing is necessary to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound.
5. Visual acuity is needed to assess color changes, to verify accuracy of written materials and to administer and accurately prepare medications.