HOME HEALTH REGISTERED NURSE

The registered nurse plans, organizes and directs / coordinates home care services 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 individuals and families within their homes and communities.

II. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Complies with accepted ethical conduct and Professional Standards of Nursing Practice as set forth by the American Nurses Association and the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Colorado.

2. Practices and maintains patient safety and dignity by abiding by Federal, State, Local and (insert company name) policy & procedures as pertains to patient protected health information and HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act).

3. Assess the physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors that affect a patient's health. In addition, they perform in-depth functional assessments and medication assessment.

4. Performs physical assessments which may include but is not limited to interviewing patients and their caregivers about the patient's health history and diagnoses, and includes performing a complete physical assessment of all the patient's body systems and capabilities, along with a review of nutritional needs.

5. Performs a psychosocial assessments which may include but is not limited to assessing the patient's cognitive, developmental, behavioral, and coping status and includes screening for anxiety, depression, and abuse or neglect.

Furthermore, a psychosocial assessment discovers the patient's language preference, health literacy, learning style, and cultural needs and preferences.

Special attention is paid to the multiple impacts the patient's illness and disease have on the family, the caregiver, and the patient's / family's finances.

6. Performs environmental assessments which may include but is not limited to focusing on risks within the home and community to the patient's and home health clinician's personal health and safety.

A home environmental assessment includes attention to obstacles within the home that may increase the risk for falls, presence of needed safety features, presence of smoke alarms, and safety practices that are required for home treatments, such as oxygen safety.

Sanitation issues that may affect the risk of infection are also assessed.

• 7. Performs comprehensive medication assessments which may include but is not limited to reconciling medications in the home to the prescriber's list and the patient's diagnoses;
• monitoring the medications for effectiveness, side effects or adverse effects, and interactions; assessing the ability of the patient and the caregiver to safely and consistently administer the medications;

and identifying any barriers or issues related to medication adherence.

8. Performs comprehensive functional assessments which may include but is not limited to determine the patient's risk for falls and ability to safely perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and independent activities of daily living (IADLs), including the ability of the patient and caregiver9s) to safely manage all medical / assistive devices and equipment.

9. Assesses client's condition and needs, through the collection of health data, the recognition, interpretation and reporting of symptoms and psychological responses and re-evaluates the client nursing needs as required.

10. Document diagnoses and identify problems from the assessment data.

11. Partners with the patient, family, and other caregivers to identify specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-defined (SMART) goals for the patient based on the patient's identified problems and diagnoses.

12. Develops a plan of care in collaboration with the patient, family and other caregivers, and other healthcare providers.

13. When the need for other services and supplies is identified, the home health nurse collaborates with the inter-professional home health team to further develop the most effective and economical plan.

14. Develops and implements nursing plan of care with consideration for the dignity and desires of the client care, organizes and participates in direct client care, performs treatment and administers medications.

15. Implements the plan of care and provides skilled nursing interventions to patients, as well as patients' families and caregivers, including direct care, teaching, counseling, coaching, care management, and resource coordination.

16. Implements care management which includes report communication to the NS or NM as instructed per (insert company name) protocol.

17. Care management communication also includes frequency by discipline and other needs communicated to (insert company name) Scheduling as instructed per (insert company name) protocol.

18. Formulates, notifies, and carries out client care plan which identifies nursing actions toward achievable goals according to client needs.

19. Maintains a safe, therapeutic environment for the client.

• 20. Initiates and maintains care coordination while participating in the development of the Plan of Care which includes but is not limited to : obtains physician's orders;
• clarifies those orders obtaining necessary revisions as needed; informs the physician of changes in the clients condition which may include but in not limited to laboratory and diagnostic reports;

provides written summary reports to the physician; and completes all required patient documentation.

21. Participates in patient education, health counseling and teaching with the patient, caregiver and family members as designated per specific patient HIPAA releases.

22. Provides ongoing assessment and evaluation of the patient's progress toward expected outcomes and thus determines the effectiveness of the plan of care providing any necessary modification as needed.

23. Maintains detailed records of nursing actions, client progress, and response to therapy and teaching so that the Plan of Care can be documented and evaluated.

24. Provides ongoing assessment and supervision of care given by ancillary personnel (LPN and C.N.A. / C.H.H.A.) to ensure the plan of care is being followed to thereby obtain the best possible outcomes of care provided.

25. Initiates preventative and rehabilitative nursing procedures.

26. Coordinates discharge planning and prepares discharge summaries and instructions.

27. Initiates cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and institutes other emergency procedures when necessary.

28. Communicates information effectively to appropriate personnel to facilitate continuity of care.

29. Motivate patients, families, and caregivers in health promotion and disease management by applying change theory, learning principles, and teaching skills.

30. Accepts accountability for own practice.

31. Maintains competency by participating in in-service, mandatory meetings or education or in-services, and continuing educational programs.

32. Participates in Monthly, Quarterly, Annual trainings as well as other meetings required by Namaste Home Health and Hospice.

33. Coordinates care of all agency disciplines which may include, but not be limited to, Nursing, Certified Home Health Aide, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medical Social Worker, and other services delivered to clients of the agency.

34. Complies with agency policies, protocols, and standard procedures.

35. Provides consultation to NS, NM, DCS, and HR for proper placement of qualified personnel

36. Completes all required documentation within 24 hours of the patient visit.

37. Completes within 24 hours all documentation sent back for correction.

38. Other duties and tasks as assigned by the Namaste Home Health and Hospice Home Care Emergency Command Center communication tree in the event of a local, regional or national emergency and / or disaster.

39. Employee responds, as required, to support emergency response plan activation.

40. Employee participates in exercises and drills for emergency preparedness, as required.

41. Employee completes emergency preparedness training as identified as appropriate for this employee level.

42. Other duties and tasks as assigned.

43. Other duties / responsibilities that support the agency's core values of Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

The employer for this position is stated in the job posting. The Pennant Group, Inc. is a holding company of independent operating subsidiaries that provide healthcare services through home health and hospice agencies and senior living communities located throughout the US.

Each of these businesses is operated by a separate, independent operating subsidiary that has its own management, employees and assets.

More information about The Pennant Group, Inc. is available at http : / / www.pennantgroup.com.