Community Aging & Retirement Services, Inc., dba CARES

Job Description

Title of Position

/ Registered Nurse
Department/Project / Home Health Department (Medicare)
Location / Port Richey
Immediate Supervisor / Director of Clinical Services
Effective Date / November 6, 2003
Position Summary & Reporting Relationship:
Through competent application of the nursing process, provides and directs the provision of home nursing care based on agency policies and procedures.
  1. Responsibilities:
  1. Provides those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill in

accordance with the plan of treatment signed by the physician, and makes the initial evaluation visit to the patient. Accepts only patients referred by the Clinical Supervisor or designee. Demonstrates competency in all skills required for the agency including but not limited to venipunctures, infusion therapy, infusion therapy device care, wound care, and aseptic technique.

  1. Is the Case Manager for patients receiving nursing services.
  1. Evaluates and regularly re-evaluates the nursing needs of the patient; initiates,

develops, implements and makes necessary revisions of the patient’s plan of care. Assesses patient’s continual care needs. Plan of care addresses all problems identified in the assessment or provides evidence of a rationale for not doing so.

  1. Initiates diagnostic, preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures as

appropriate to the patient’s care and safety. Makes referrals to other disciplines as indicated by the needs of the patient or documents rationale for not doing so.

  1. Observes signs and symptoms and reports to the physician and/or other

appropriate health professionals as often as needed, changes in the patient’s condition.

  1. Teaches, supervises and counsels patient and family regarding home nursing

procedures and other care needs as appropriate to the patient’s condition. Utilizes agency educational material as appropriate.

  1. Coordinates the total plan of care and maintains continuity of patient care by

liaison with other health professionals assigned to the same patients as the nurse. Attends patient care conferences.

  1. Participates in all aspects of care, including an ongoing multidisciplinary

evaluation and development of the plan of care. Initiates patient care conferences for complex and/or multidisciplinary patients whenever needed or helpful to ensure good coordination of care.

CARES JOB DESCRIPTION: PAGE TWO

  1. Supervises and teaches home health aide every two weeks, assesses patient’s

need for unskilled care and revises plan of care as appropriate. Communicates plan of care changes to aide and scheduler as often as necessary.

  1. Responsible for the clinical record. Develops, prepares and maintains individualized patient care progress records with accuracy, timeliness and according to policies. Submits OASIS documentation within 72 hours of visit. Submits clinical notes within 72 hours of visit.
  1. Responsible for following all policies and procedures of the agency regarding

service delivery, documentation, and care coordination. During supervisory visits, exhibits full compliance and verbalizes knowledge of agency policies, including but not limited to patient education, infection control, management of hazardous wastes, and age-specific behaviors for patients.

  1. Responsible for keeping current in nursing trends and knowledge.

Participates in in-service programs.

  1. Actively participates and is involved in CARES Home Health’s quality

assessment and performance improvement program. Can verbalize own responsibilities and activities.

  1. Performance Requirements:

Performance demonstrates initiative and skills in planning and organization of work.

  1. Demonstrates a desire to set and meet objectives and to find increasingly efficient ways to perform tasks.
  1. Completes work, care and documentation with accuracy and within agency time frames.
  1. Requires minimal supervision and is self-directed.

Mission/Agency Standards

Demonstrates organization awareness and commitment.

  1. Understands and appropriately applies organizational chart (chain of command) in relation to job position and supervision.
  1. Knows and understands agency mission in relation to own job position.

Observes confidentiality policy at all times.

  1. Protects and honors patient and coworker confidentiality.
  1. Respects patients’ and coworkers’ right to privacy.

CARES JOB DESCRIPTION: PAGE THREE

Observes attendance and attire policies.

  1. Can be relied upon to be at work consistently and on time when scheduled.
  1. Demonstrates cooperation with scheduling requests to meet agency needs.
  1. Consistently adheres to agency dress code for position.

Complies with all other related policies, procedures and requests.

  1. Recommends and/or supports changes to policies and procedures.
  1. Demonstrates knowledge of policies and procedures applicable to own job position.
  1. Maintains compliance with all laws, regulations and policies.
  1. Adheres to policies and procedures.

Conserves agency resources.

  1. Maintains agency property, supplies and equipment in a manner that demonstrates ownership and accountability.
  1. Maintains the work area to reduce the likelihood of safety hazards and to enhance the general appearance.

Communication Skills

Demonstrates interpersonal understanding and utilizes effective communications skills.

  1. Considers what is said and done and its effect on others.
  1. Utilizes listening skills that indicate understanding, and promotes accurate interpretation of others’ concerns, motives and feelings.
  1. Recognizes the influence of beliefs and cultures on behaviors and accepts strengths and limitations in others.
  1. Works toward resolution of interpersonal conflicts as they arise.
  1. Recognizes when others are in need of information, assistance or direction, and consistently offers and provides help.
  1. Attends and participates positively in meetings.
  1. Regularly reads and appropriately applies to practice communications/memos.
  1. Uses words that express respect, patience and understanding in interactions with others.

CARES JOB DESCRIPTION: PAGE FOUR

  1. Acknowledges others verbally and nonverbally (eye contact, pleasant expression, tone of voice) promptly and courteously.
  1. Follows appropriate phone etiquette.

Exhibits behaviors of cooperation.

  1. Able to develop cooperation and collaborative work efforts that generally benefit all involved parties.
  1. Demonstrates the initiative to meet the needs of the agency by assisting coworkers whenever workload permits.

Exhibits adaptability, flexibility, self-control and maturity in work and behavior.

  1. Maintains stable performance and emotions when faced with opposition, pressure and/or stressful conditions.
  1. Recognizes codependency issues in caregiving roles and exercises caution in relationship to maintain objectivity.
  1. Develops work relationships that honor and respect others’ strengths and abilities.

Problem Solving

Exhibits critical thinking abilities and applies them for continuous improvement of services and the agency.

  1. Uses own knowledge and experience base and other resources as necessary to make logical decisions and solve problems.
  1. Continuously analyzes work processes and makes suggestions for improvement.
  1. Machine/Equipment/Tool(s) Used:

BeeperSphygmomanometer

TelephoneStethoscope

PhotocopierMedications

Fax MachineMedical Equipment and Supplies

  1. Safety Equipment:

Gloves

Mask

CPR Microshield

Back Belt Available

CARES JOB DESCRIPTION: PAGE FIVE

  1. Qualifications:
  1. A graduate of a school of professional nursing.
  1. Licensure: Holds a license to practice professional nursing in the state of Florida.
  1. Experience: A minimum of one year of nursing experience in Medicare home health.
  1. Must have a telephone.
  1. Acts only within the scope of his or her state license.
  1. Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care primarily to the geriatric population and, to a lesser degree, the pediatric and adult populations.
  1. Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
  1. Must be able to assess data reflective of a patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.
  1. Working Conditions:

Physical Demands

Long periods of sitting. Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, and squat. Able to hear normal speech. Able to communicate orally and in writing. Able to see details for patient’s physical assessment. Must be able to document services provided. May be exposed to hazardous materials, infectious materials, needles and body fluids, and toxic chemicals. Will be exposed to all temperatures and types of weather.

Degree Of Travel

Home visits daily. Weekly office meetings. Must have reliable transportation and agency-required automobile insurance.

Degree Of Disruption To Routine, Overtime

Must be able to adapt to patient status and needs, as directed. Schedule changes daily due to staffing, patient’s condition, new patients. Must be on call.

Safety Hazards In Job

Possible infections from patients. Possibility of an auto accident. Possible unsafe neighborhoods.

CARES JOB DESCRIPTION: PAGE SIX

  1. Staff Development:
  1. Maintains personal health status requirements in relation to job position.
  1. Maintains professional licensure/certification.
  1. Maintains current personnel file information and provides to agency in a timely manner.
  1. Sets own development challenges and volunteers to learn.
  1. Assists with orientation of new personnel.
  1. Adheres to agency infection control and safety policies, including education, reporting, and practice implementation specific to job position.
  1. Attends agency-provided in-services to full-fill requirements of position and agency policies.

Employment Status: (Mark one of the following) Exempt____ Non-Exempt__X___

Registered Nurse11-06-03