The Nurse Clinician will work in Palliative Care and join a hospital medicine team dedicated to getting patients the care and resources they need. The position will work closely with the palliative care team, as well as the Transition and Care Coordination team, to identify patients in the emergency department who would benefit from early palliative care interventions including conversations about goals of care, alignment of expectations, support for family members and caretakers, while providing connection to outpatient resources. The multidisciplinary environment will require exceptional interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, physicians, clinical and administrative units. This position will utilize nursing skills to perform patient assessments via phone or in person and implement nursing interventions; as such the ability to use appropriate judgment, independent thinking and creativity when resolving patient care issues.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain a safe and clean work environment. Ensure compliance with OSHA regulations. Report deficiencies to supervisor immediately. Assist in rectifying deficiencies as requested. Assume responsibility for and supervision of the appropriate care of medical equipment.
- Provide pre-attending care for patients. For each patient, perform a comprehensive assessment of the chief complaint and patient needs utilizing the nursing process. Based on findings, seek solutions and offer opinions to physicians and other health care providers. Document all nursing assessments in the patient鈥檚 medical record. Ensure that all documentation is clear, complete and legible. Maintain patient confidentiality at all times. Understand and uphold the protocols and procedures for release of patient/medical information.
- Perform routine nursing duties and demonstrate clinical competency. Independently perform routine nursing duties including phlebotomy, medication administration, measurement of vital signs, preparation of lab specimens, etc. Demonstrate clinical competency when performing complex specialty-related procedures, including conscious sedation, chemotherapy administration, inseminations, filling and adjustment of implantable pain pumps and excision and drainage of wounds.
- Interpret and define abnormalities detected in tests and procedures, then take appropriate remedial action. Document all interventions in the patient medical record as appropriate. Ensure that all documentation is clear, complete and legible.
- Communicate and collaborate with other departments. Communicate and collaborate with other clinical and administrative departments in order to coordinate appropriate patient care, as needed. Communicate with outside agencies or facilities as appropriate.
- Triage and prioritize incoming telephone calls. Triage and prioritize incoming telephone calls using clinical assessment skills and service standards. Document all assessments the patient medical record as appropriate. Ensure that all documentation is clear, complete and legible.
- Manage urgent/emergent medical situations as appropriate and in accordance with the organization鈥檚 protocols for medical emergencies and cardiac arrests. Obtain and/or operate emergency equipment according to relevant standards.
- Serve as a resource for staff and physicians for daily problem solving and decision-making. Maintain a consistent alertness to patient care needs and take a proactive approach to address/resolve issues. Delegate appropriate tasks according to Illinois law and organizational protocols to Licensed Practical Nurses and Medical Assistants.
- Comply with all existing policies and procedures related to patient care. Make recommendations to management regarding new policies and procedures that may improve the patient experience. Assure that new policies and procedures are implemented in a timely manner.
- Initiate and coordinate patient education. Ensure that patients understand educational materials and can exhibit return demonstration when pertinent. Provide teaching to staff on both a formal and informal basis. Participate in community outreach education, patient support groups or specialty-related educational programs offered to hospital and community nurses, as requested.