RN Intake - Niagara Hospice

Niagara Hospice provides expert, specialized care and personalized support to Niagara County residents, families and caregivers facing any type of terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less. The Intake Nurse is a pre-hospice nurse crossed trained to provide care management to palliative care patients, management of a patient in a pre-hospice care model, or conducts hospice eligibility assessments for referrals made for hospice admission to either (Hospice House (GIP) and Routine Care (either Home, HH Residence or other institutional settings).

Shift Available:

• 4 -10 hour shifts on weekdays and weekend rotation as needed

Hospice Admission Activities:

The Intake nurse is responsible for screening and /or facilitating the Intake of prospective Hospice patients.

Pre-Hospice Care Management Models:

Niagara Hospice at times will participate in innovative models of care that focus on managing chronic illnesses as a precursor to a hospice referral or admission. These care management models take on many forms to include face to face encounters, telephonic and telehealth visits.

Pathways: Palliative Care Management Model:

Niagara Hospice has an established Palliative Care Management Model known as Pathways. The intake nurse will be responsible for maintaining contact with the patient via telephone, telehealth and face to face visits to assure care plan intervention compliance.

General Duties:

1. Ability to communicate in sensitive, professional and empathetic manner to family and individual facing chronic and end of life decisions.
2. Exhibits good understanding of Hospice philosophy and expertise in the care of the terminally ill.
3. Knowledgeable regarding the Hospice Medicare benefit, as well as understanding of other insurances.
4. Communicates with physician and obtains appropriate medical orders with regard to the Intake process and other orders as required to address identified symptoms related to the care of the patient and if applicable the terminal diagnosis.
5. Knowledgeable of pain/symptom management and end of life social/spiritual concerns.
6. Communicates Hospice Intake decisions with referring facility staff (i.e., hospital, nursing home, adult home, etc.), Director of Clinical Services, Director of Hospice Homecare.
7. Completes documentation within 24 hours of Intake in a professional legible manner.
   1. Communicates patient/family needs to appropriate members of IDG of patient’s Intake daily via the electronic medical record.
8. Coordinates equipment, medications, Home Health Aide and other services needed by patient/family for optimum care and safety when applicable.
9. Participates in on-call rotation as requested.
10. Takes telephone referral and follow through to patient Intake if requested.
11. Assists in any other activities required for expeditious patient Intake and/or smooth flow of departmental needs.
12. Promotion of and adherence to the elements of the corporate compliance program.

Education Requirements:

Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Work/Skill/Experience:

• Willingness to travel to patients’ homes and provide own transportation in all types of weather.
• Three years nursing experience, preferred.
• Previous hospice or home health experience is preferred.
• Ability to make decisions based on problem solving techniques.
• Strong clinical assessment skills
• Customer service/hospitality skills a plus
• Flexible, must be adaptable to last minute schedule changes

Licensure/Certification:

• Possesses a current, valid New York State driver’s license.
• Current NYS RN License

Benefits:

Niagara Hospice offers outstanding benefits on your date of hire, including:

• 19 days of paid time off in your first year
• 6 paid holidays
• Health Insurance - with fully employer paid option available for you and your family
• Inexpensive insurance options for dental and vision
• 403b retirement plan
• Company paid long term disability and basic life insurance
• Company pension after 1 year of service
• Work/life balance with weekday shifts, no weekends or on-call

The pay range displayed on this job posting reflects the anticipated range for this position. A successful candidate’s actual compensation will be determined after taking factors into consideration such as the candidate’s work history, experience, skill set, and education. This is not inclusive of the value of the benefits package, which includes, among other benefits, healthcare/dental/vision, PTO, and retirement