PRN LVN Hospice - Northeast Houston

Summary: 

The Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse provides direct hospice nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse and in accordance with the physician’s orders, the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) plan of care, applicable law and regulation, accepted standards of nursing practice, payor requirements, and Interim HealthCare policies and procedures. The LPN/LVN delivers treatments and comfort-focused interventions, monitors and reports changes in patient condition, supports pain and symptom management, educates patients and families regarding end-of-life care, and collaborates with the hospice IDG to promote comfort, dignity, safety, and continuity of care. 

Essential Functions: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned as needed. 

• Provide direct hospice nursing care within the LPN/LVN scope of practice and as planned, delegated, and supervised by a registered nurse. 

• Provide services ordered by the physician and identified in the IDG plan of care, including treatments, medication-related activities, and comfort-focused interventions permitted by applicable law and organizational policy. 

• Participate in ongoing assessment by observing the patient, collecting relevant clinical information, and promptly reporting changes in condition, pain, symptoms, safety concerns, or unmet needs to the supervising registered nurse. 

• Provide appropriate pain and symptom management interventions as directed and evaluate and report the patient’s response to treatments and medications. 

• Assist the registered nurse and physician with specialized procedures and duties within authorized scope of practice. 

• Participate in coordination of hospice services and promptly report identified needs for nursing, social work, spiritual care, aide, volunteer, bereavement, or other IDG support. 

• Provide respectful and compassionate care consistent with hospice philosophy and the patient’s individualized goals, preferences, and plan of care. 

• Educate patients, families, and caregivers regarding the plan of care, medications, treatments, self-care techniques, safety, comfort measures, pain and symptom management, and expected changes associated with advanced illness and the dying process. 

• Complete timely, accurate, relevant, and sufficient clinical documentation reflecting services provided, patient response, progress toward goals, and communication with the care team. 

• Communicate with the supervising registered nurse, physicians, and other IDG members to promote continuity of care and timely revision of the plan of care when indicated. 

• Participate in IDG meetings, case conferences, in-services, and training as requested. 

• Participate in the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program and support implementation of improvement strategies. 

• Participate in the Office’s Emergency Preparedness program, as requested. 

• Collect and report clinical and operational data accurately, completely, and within required timeframes. 

• Use equipment, medications, supplies, and other resources safely, effectively, and efficiently. 

• Participate in ongoing professional growth and development and maintain required competencies. 

• May have access to protected health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities. Access to use and ability to disclose PHI is further defined by each organization/department. 

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements: 

• Graduate of an accredited practical or vocational nursing program. 

• Current, unrestricted LPN/LVN license in each state in which services are provided. 

• At least 1,200 hours of experience as an LPN/LVN or successful completion of the Office’s preceptor program. 

• Current CPR certification for adults, children, and infants, as required by organizational policy. 

• Valid driver’s license and proof of auto liability insurance when assignments include driving a personal vehicle. 

• Meets applicable federal and state health-screening requirements and criminal and abuse background-check requirements. 

• Successfully completes required written knowledge examination, competency evaluation, and verification of employment eligibility. 

• Twelve months of acute care nursing experience preferred; hospice or palliative care experience strongly preferred. 

Communication & Relationship Skills: 

• Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, respectfully, and compassionately with patients, families, caregivers, physicians, registered nurses, hospice IDG members, facility staff, and other care partners. 

• Ability to communicate changes in patient condition, pain, symptoms, treatment response, and safety concerns promptly and accurately to the supervising registered nurse and other appropriate team members. 

• Ability to educate patients and caregivers regarding medications, treatments, comfort measures, self-care, and expected changes associated with advanced illness and the dying process, adapting communication to the individual’s needs and level of understanding. 

• Ability to interpret and communicate physician orders, plans of care, clinical observations, and patient responses accurately. 

• Ability to document clinical observations, interventions, education, and patient responses clearly, accurately, and within required timeframes. 

• Ability to collaborate effectively as a member of the hospice IDG to support continuity, comfort, dignity, safety, and patient- and family-centered goals of care. 

• Demonstrate professionalism, empathy, diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, sound judgment, and appropriate boundaries in all interactions. 

Reasoning Abilities: 

• Ability to work under the supervision of a registered nurse while exercising appropriate independent judgment within the LPN/LVN scope of practice. 

• Ability to follow physician orders, the IDG plan of care, clinical protocols, policies, and procedures while recognizing when a change in condition requires immediate reporting, reassessment, or escalation. 

• Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to changes in pain, symptoms, functional status, cognition, respiratory status, intake, elimination, skin integrity, and other indicators of decline or distress. 

• Ability to apply hospice philosophy and comfort-focused goals when carrying out assigned nursing interventions and educating patients and families. 

• Ability to prioritize multiple patient-care responsibilities and adapt to changing patient needs, schedules, care settings, and urgent requests. 

• Ability to identify needs requiring support from other IDG disciplines and communicate those needs promptly. 

• Demonstrate organization, accuracy, reliability, attention to detail, and follow-through in clinical care, documentation, communication, and assigned responsibilities. 

• Ability to participate meaningfully in QAPI, emergency preparedness, competency development, and ongoing training and apply learned principles in daily practice. 

Working Conditions & Physical Effort: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Work is generally performed in patient homes, hospice inpatient or respite settings, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and other locations where hospice services are provided. 

• Ability to travel routinely within the geographic area served by the Office to fulfill assigned visits and schedules. 

• Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, and other potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations requiring extensive safety precautions and use of protective equipment. 

• Ability to frequently stand, walk, bend, stoop, squat, kneel, and reach and to assist patients with standing, walking, repositioning, and transfers. 

• Ability to grasp and manipulate clinical equipment, pens, knobs, and other objects; visual acuity, manual dexterity, and hearing sufficient to perform required nursing skills and assess patients. 

• Medium physical activity that may require frequent lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 50 pounds while performing daily job functions and related activities. 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evening, weekend, holiday, and on-call hours, as assigned. 

• Prolonged periods of driving and electronic clinical documentation may be required.