Job Description

H OSPICE OF EL PASO

POSITION: WEEKEND ON-CALL NURSE

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS

PURPOSE OF POSITION

To provide patient care during non-office hours as prescribed by the physician in compliance with applicable nursing licensure and agency policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Listed below is an outline of the essential duties and responsibilities that will be required. Administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary to perform the assigned duties under the supervision of the Director of Clinical Operations are delegated to the On-Call Nurse.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.

DUTIES

1. Skilled Nursing Services
2. Performs emergency start of care if requested.
3. Performs skilled evaluation of patients as needed following telephone triage.
4. Instructs patient’s family and caregivers as appropriate to overcome identified knowledge deficits, documents in notes and home charts.
5. Obtains physician orders and implements interventions and changes in treatment as appropriate.
6. Initiates prescribed treatment and evaluates medication effectiveness within 24 hours.
7. Makes visits at the time of death of patient to pronounce death.
8. Performs follow-up telephone call on next day SOC if requested by staff.

1. Administration
2. Provides appropriate documentation for emergency start of care visit within 24 hours of admission.
3. Provides appropriate documentation of skilled nursing visits, changes in patient condition, caregiver status, or family dynamics and all patient related telephone calls within 24 hours of contact.
4. Synchronizes daily.
5. Receives non-office hour phone calls from patients, families, and physicians.
6. Clear all chart deficiencies every week with HIMS.
7. Provides leadership and supervision to personnel when assigned.
8. Weekend on-call staff provides accurate care status report every Monday at Team Meeting
9. Weekday on-call staff provides shift report daily to Team Leader at assigned time.
10. Responds to calls and pages in a timely manner.

1. General
2. Shall know and conform to the Texas Nursing Practice Act as delineated in Title 3, Subtitle E, Chapter 301 of the Texas Occupations Code, the Board of Nurse Examiner’s standards, rules and regulations as delineated in Title 22, Part 11 of the Texas Administrative Code, as well as all federal, state, or local laws, rules or regulations affecting the nurse’s current are of nursing practice.
3. Maintains Licensure as required by Title 3, Subtitle E, Chapter 301 of the Texas Occupations Code and Title 22, Part 11, of the Texas Administrative Code.
4. Notifies Hospice immediately of any pending action against the license or pending suspension or any suspension or action taken against the license.
5. Has knowledge of and follows Hospice policies and procedures.
6. Maintains a professional appearance.
7. Displays a consistent positive attitude.
8. Adheres to Hospice of El Paso Mission Statement.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

COMMUNICATION

1. Establishes and maintains effective communication with patients, members, physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and foster care personnel.
2. Establishes and maintains effective communication with Hospice administration, volunteer, and patient care departments.
3. Listens and responds to the patient/ family needs in a sensitive and timely manner keeping all parties (IDG) appraised of developments.
4. Maintains a cooperative manner towards patient/family and all members of the team, and all employees of Hospice El Paso.
5. Complies with HIPAA standard by abiding with the minimum necessary Protected Health Information to perform job function. Access Level 2 = Select, insert, update.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Attends and participates in in-services, education classes and on-the-job training programs as required to maintain competency level.
2. Attends workshops and seminars as approved.
3. Participates in orientation of employees, volunteers, and students as assigned.
4. Participates in initial competencies upon hire and annually thereafter.
5. Attends ethics and compliance training and maintains compliance with CCP.

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. Works in patient's home setting, as well as throughout the nursing service areas.
2. Involved with physicians, patients, family members, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions/circumstances.
3. Subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, etc.
4. A willingness to work beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
5. Involved in community/civic health matters/projects as needed.
6. Subject to falls, burns from equipment, infectious diseases, odors, etc., throughout the workday.
7. Exposure Level – Category I. Direct contact with blood, other bodily fluids, and potentially infectious materials to which standard precautions apply. Personal protective equipment is made available and must be worn.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Valid Registered Nurse or Vocational Nurse license in the State of Texas.
2. Two (2) years clinical experience. Background of oncology, care of terminal patients or community health preferred.
3. Must be able to read, write, and speak English at a level which will permit the employee to accurately understand and communicate information as necessary to perform job duties safely and efficiently.
4. A personal vehicle available for transportation during work hours.
5. Valid driver's license, insurance as required by the State of Texas.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Sits, bends, lifts, and walks intermittently during working hours. Is able to sit for prolonged periods.
2. Is able to reposition up to 50 pounds of weight.
3. Possesses sight/hearing senses or uses prosthetics that enable these senses to function adequately, so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.

I HAVE READ THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH THEREIN AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH AND WILL PERFORM ALL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

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On-Call Nurse Date

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Director of Clinical Operations Date