Registered Nurse

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The VITAS RN is a member of the interdisciplinary team who work together to meet the

physical, medical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of hospice patients and families

facing terminal illness and bereavement. The VITAS RN is designated to provide coordination of

care, ensure continuous assessment of each patient’s and family’s needs, initiates interventions

for patients and families and implementation and oversight of the interdisciplinary plan of care.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Follows VITAS policies and standards (See VITAS Standards Manual) and practices within the

scope of the RN license and has knowledge of hospice eligibility requirements.

Case Management and Supervision

 Coordinates all service delivery including review of entries in the record made by after hours,

patient and family education, dispatching of interdisciplinary visits, and coordination of services

with external vendors and resources as needed.

 Provides support and collaboration with IDG and after hours staff to ensure favorable patient

outcomes.

 Supervision of (VITAS employed and contracted) nursing tasks delegated to Hospice Aides,

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (and contracted Registered Nurses) and Volunteers per the

plan of care.

 Reports any request to practice outside of scope of license to the manager/supervisor.

 Documents interactions with patients, families, contacts, and vendors in the patient record to

include the assessment, plan of care, caller agreement to the plan, any actions and interventions

and the resolution of each patient/family interaction at the time of the event.

 Completes in person visit documentation at the location of care unless otherwise directed.

 Provides education and training to patients, families, caregivers and referral sources in the care of

the patient, including pain management.

 Participates in patient care meetings as assigned.

 Participates in bereavement support.

 Participates in the on-call rotation one weekend day per month, and holidays based upon identified needs.

Provides visits /shifts in program coverage area.

 Works with IDG to develop, coordinate, and follow the patient’s individualized plan of care.

 Obtains physician orders when necessary.

 Provides those services requiring substantial and specialized nursing skill.

 Evaluates the outcome of services.

 Appropriately delegates nursing tasks to Hospice Aides/Homemakers, Volunteers, and

Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses.

 Provides nursing care including nursing tasks that may be delegated to other roles such as

LPNs, HAs and Volunteers.

 Participates in and monitors patient and family care compliance activities.

 Professionally manages/coordinates the hospice plan of care.

 Provides and follows infection control practices.

 Delivers care in accordance with the patient’s plan of care.

 Provides primary nursing care for inpatient and continuous care patients as assigned.

 Participates in the orientation of new team members as assigned by the supervising manager.

 Attends regularly scheduled in-services, staff meetings, and educational conferences.

 Instructs and documents appropriate use of medications, home medical equipment and supplies.

 Appropriately utilizes the resources such as Pharmacy, HME, agency staff, and transportation

services.

VITAS® Healthcare is the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care with a significant national footprint. VITAS is mission driven with well established processes, systems and compliance frameworks. National network provides learning from best practices across markets.

Vitas Values:
1. Patients and Families Come First
2. We Take Care of Eachother
3. I'll Do My Best Today and Even Better Tomorrow
4. I Am Proud to Make a Difference