Palliative Care RN

The Palliative Care access nurse acts as a coordinator and facilitator for palliative care services. He/she will be responsible for: clinical triage, coordination of care, patient education and teaching. The position reports to the Director of Palliative Medicine, although he/she will be expected to work with all members of the palliative care service, both outpatient and inpatient. The RN Coordinator is expected to be HIPAA and Joint Commission compliant, follow the unit’s code of conduct, and be guided by the WDH/MGB Mission, credo, and boundaries.

Key Objectives:
a.    Assess, facilitate and coordinate new patient access to palliative care providers
b.    Provide, facilitate and support quality patient care across the continuum of care (inpatient, outpatient, community settings)
c.    Assists scheduler to maximize provider schedules and patient flow of new and follow-up patients through appropriate and efficient scheduling

Key Responsibilities:

     Incoming Referrals
 .         Triage incoming referrals, collaborate with referring providers, patient care coordinators, and palliative care providers to identify and facilitate the scheduling of newly referred patients and manage all referrals utilizing the S&PC Scheduling Guidelines.
a.    Obtain initial new patient intake/assessment data: diagnosis, chief complaint, PMH, physical symptoms, medications, psychosocial/cultural assessment, and educational needs.
b.    Provide patient education including: contact information for the palliative care providers, after hours coverage, medication questions, prescription renewal process, follow-up appointments.
c.    Assist in managing the inpatient/outpatient flow of palliative care patients: set appropriate priorities among competing demands.
d.    Assist in scheduling patient follow-up visits as appropriate.

Patient Visits and Indirect Patient Care
 .    Provide ongoing nursing assessment of the patient across the continuum in relation to treatment plans, patient and family inquiries, symptom management, psychosocial support, and education. May include initiating a plan of care based on protocols or algorithms.
a.    Assist the Palliative Care team with telephone calls and triage to provide safe, effective, and appropriate disposition of health-related problems using approved practice protocols (includes assessment, patient education, crisis intervention).
b.    Complete, process, and follow-up on prescription preparation and prior authorizations for the outpatient clinic.
c.    Assist the Palliative Care team in referrals to community home health, palliative care, and hospice programs. Provide nursing interventions where appropriate Assist scheduler in referring patients to other providers for diagnostic and/or laboratory testing as requested
d.    Document all care accurately and timely in the electronic medical record and/or chart according to unit policy and procedures and WDH/MGB HIPAA and Joint Commission requirements.

Administrative
 .    Assist the Administrative Assistant in compiling the daily schedule
a.    Work with providers on clinical policies and procedures as needed
b.    Assist in quality improvement processes where appropriate
c.    Work with the Palliative Care Manager to perform other tasks as required
 

xperience Minimum Required
•    2-3 years nursing in palliative care, acute care, oncology, or ambulatory care

Experience Preferred/Desired
•    1 year Palliative Care experience.
 
Education Minimum Required
•    Bachelors’ or Masters’ Degree in Nursing (BSN/MSN)

 Licensure as Registered Nurse (Palliative Care certification within 3 years)

Education Preferred/Desired
•    Knowledge of end-of-life care, including advance care planning, symptom management, and bereavement care