Job Title/Position: Registered Nurse (RN)

Reports To: Clinical Supervisor

Job Description Summary

The Registered Nurse plans, organizes and directs 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 individual and families within their homes and communities.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

Patient Care

1. Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
2. Regularly re-evaluates patient nursing needs.
3. Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change.
4. Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis.
5. Develops a care plan, which establishes goals based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative nursing actions.  Includes the patient and the family in the planning process.
6. Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures.  Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
7. Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs.
8. Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan.
9. Identifies discharge planning needs as part of the care plan development and implements prior to discharge of the patient.

Communication

1. Prepares clinical notes and updates the primary physician when necessary and at least every sixty-two days.
2. Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports any changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required.
3. Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.

Additional Duties

1. Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
2. Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available.
3. Instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care provided every fourteen days.

Position Qualifications

1. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.  One to two years of recent acute care experience in an institutional setting.
2. Current licensure in State, CPR certification and valid driver’s license.
3. Bachelors or Associate’s degree, with one year of clinical experience.
4. Management experience not required. Responsible for supervising home health aides.
5. Excellent observation, verbal and written communication skills, problem solving skills, basic math skills; nursing skills per competency checklist.
6. Prolonged or considerable walking or standing.  Able to lift, position or transfer patients. Able to lift supplies and equipment.  Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling or crouching.  Visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing skills.

Continuing Education Requirements

Agency personnel are expected to participate in appropriate continuing education as may be requested and/or required by their immediate supervisor.  In addition, agency personnel are expected to accept personal responsibility for other educational activities to enhance job related skills and abilities.  All personnel must attend mandatory educational programs.