PALLIATIVE CARE / HOSPICE CARE RN - FULL-TIME

POSITION: PALLIATIVE CARE NURSE - RN

The palliative care nurse provides specialized, compassionate care to patients with serious, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses, focusing on symptom management, comfort, and quality of life for both patients and their families. The palliative care RN is responsible for individual patient/family assessment, facilitating patient care, performing patient and family education in conjunction with Palliative Care Physicians, APNs and other members of the palliative care team.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Palliative Care Nurse (RN) is responsible to COLLABORATE WITH THE APN on all services.

· Care Planning and Coordination: Implement individualized care plans, working with interdisciplinary teams including doctors, social workers, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals to align care with patient values and goals.

• Patient Assessment: Evaluate patient conditions, develop individualized care plans, and monitor progress to ensure effective symptom management and comfort.
• Symptom Management: Monitor and manage symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, or confusion.
• Pain Management: Administer medications, implement pain relief strategies, and monitor responses to treatment for conditions such as cancer, heart disease, dementia, or life-threatening injuries.
• Emotional and Psychological Support: Provide counseling, listen to patient and family concerns, and help them cope with stress, anxiety, and grief associated with serious illnesses. Provide emotional comfort to patients and families, offering reassurance, listening, and guidance during stressful or terminal illness situations.
• Patient and Family Education: Educate patients and caregivers about disease processes, treatment options, medication management, and end-of-life care decisions. Educate families about medical conditions, treatment options, and symptom management, helping them make informed decisions and feel confident in caregiving
• Collaboration with Healthcare Teams: Work closely with doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate care and ensure patient wishes are respected.
• Advocacy: Act as a patient advocate to ensure their needs and preferences are honored, particularly regarding end-of-life care. Advocate for patient preferences regarding treatment, comfort, and dignity, ensuring that care decisions reflect the patient’s values and goals.
• Documentation and Compliance: Maintain accurate medical records, follow ethical guidelines, and comply with healthcare regulations.

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY The registered nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individual and families within their homes and communities. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES Patient Care 1. Completes an initial, comprehensive and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es). 2. Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process. 3. Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by: A. Writing and initiating plan of care B. Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs C. Participating in revising the plan of care as necessary 4. Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change. 5. Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis. 6. Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process. 7. Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care. 8. Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs. 9. Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan. 10. Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care. 11. Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload.

Pay: $90,000.00 - $96,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• PALLIATIVE CARE: 1 year (Required)
• Hospice & palliative medicine: 1 year (Required)

License/Certification:

• NEW JERSEY RN LICENSE (Required)
• NEW JERSEY DRIVER'S LICENSE (Required)
• Certified Hospice & Palliative Licensed Nurse (Preferred)

Work Location: On the road