Home Health & Hospice On-Call RN

Job Summary

The On-Call Home Health & Hospice Nurse is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education/experience and is available after business hours for Caledonia Home Health Care & Hospice. The On-Call Home Health & Hospice Nurse will respond to all pages from the answering service during these times and will determine the appropriate course of action which may include taking referral/order information and making phone calls and/or visits to patients/families.

This position requires four overnight shifts at 40 hours per week.

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

• Respond to all pages from the answering service with a phone call to the caller within 15 minutes.
• Receive and document physician orders in the electronic medical record.
• Receive and complete initial intake information from referral sources.
• Triage patient/family calls to determine need for phone versus in-person intervention.
• In the event that a patient has an emergency need, call 911 on behalf of the patient and report to the patient’s home immediately as appropriate.
• Report evening patient care activities, physicians orders/referrals received to the covering supervisor in a timely manner the next morning.
• Complete an initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs. Provide a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
• Initiate the plan of care. Develop a care plan, which establishes goals based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative nursing actions. Include the patient and the family in the planning process.
• Initiate appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician. Provide direct patient care as defined in the State Nurse Practice Act.
• Re-evaluate patient nursing needs and make necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
• Counsel the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
• Provide health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan of care.
• Communicate with the physician regarding the patients needs and report any changes in the patients condition; obtain/receive physician orders as required.
• Communicate with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
• Ensure that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Instruct, supervise and evaluate home health aide care when necessary.
• Participate in holiday visit rotation.

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.*