At St. Croix Hospice, we believe in the power of compassionate care. Like the river that inspired our name and takes great skill to navigate, St. Croix Hospice guides patients and their families through the end-of-life journey.

We are committed to ensuring the highest quality of life for our patients, empowering them to make the most of their time with dignity, comfort and respect.

If you are ready to be part of our deeply compassionate family of caregivers guiding extraordinary life experiences, then we invite you to join our team, where your work truly matters.

Position Overview

The Admissions Nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care and is experienced in nursing, with emphasis on community health education and experience. The professional nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and direct services to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

Essential Functions and Skills

Patient Care

• Performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Nurse Practice Act and in accordance with basic principles and guidelines of professional nursing.
• Completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment of all current and previous health history.

Evaluates patient status by

• Writing and initiating Plan of Care
• Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs
• Participating in Plan of Care revision as necessary
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
• Develops a plan of care that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis, and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes patient and family in the planning process.
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed and determined by the physician’s plan of care.
• Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan. Completes, submits, and maintains accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given.
• Records pain/symptom management and changes/outcomes as appropriate.

• Communicates with the physician regarding patient needs and reports changes in patient condition; obtains/receives physician orders as required.
• Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self- sufficiency and optional comfort care.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for patients.
• Counsels and works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice interdisciplinary group to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver.
• Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet, and other instructions as ordered by the physician. Recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with an interdisciplinary care team.
• Coordinates Plan of Care with relevant community health partners.
• Ensures arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
• Acts as RN Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload
• Responsible for maintaining compliance with all HIPAA regulations and requirements. Treats all patient information as confidential and utilizes protected health information on a minimum necessary basis.

Additional Duties

• Participate in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
• Attend interdisciplinary group meetings.
• Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required.
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development. Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in- service classes.
• Actively participates in quality assessment and performance improvement teams and activities as assigned.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Must have a current Registered Nurse (RN) license in state(s) of practice.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing and is currently licensed, certified or registered in the state(s) of practice.
• Nurses holding a multistate license can practice in other states without obtaining additional licenses while maintaining their Registered Nurse (RN) license in their primary state of residence (PSOR). Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois are not in the Nursing Licensure Compact.
• Ability to pass background, consumer report and drug test.
• Valid State Driver’s License, access to an automobile in good working order, automobile insurance in accordance with state and organizational requirements, and an acceptable driving record required.

Preferred

• 1+ years of recent experience in hospice/home care preferred.
• 2+ years of Nursing experience, preferred

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements described are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made.

• Pushing/Pulling and Lifting/carrying up to 30 pounds. Occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to adapt to a variety of work conditions to ensure the highest quality of patient care in a home setting.