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Nurse with Protective Mask

Hospice & Palliative FAQ

There are some misconceptions regarding Hospice & Palliative Care so below we have included some frequently asked questions.

  • Nursing
    The registered nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care 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 • Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es). • Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process. • Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by: A. Writing and initiating plan of care B. Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs C. Revising the plan of care as necessary • Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change. • Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis. • Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process. • Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care. • Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs. • Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan. • Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care. • Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. Communication • Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate. • Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required. • Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan. • Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the other hospice Interdisciplinary Group Members. • Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient. • Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care. • Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice Interdisciplinary Team Members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver. • Attends Interdisciplinary Group meetings. Additional Duties • Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy. • Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available. • Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required. • Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes. • Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments. • Actively participates in quality management program. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the application by clicking here.
  • Medical Social Worker
    The medical social worker contracted or employed through the organization is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services and for adherence to all conditions in the Service or Employment Agreement. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary group. Provides an assessment in the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not safe and another plan is required. • Carries out social evaluations and plans intervention based on evaluation findings. Counsels patient and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties. • Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work. • Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs. • Provides information to patients and families/caregivers and community agencies. • Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies. • Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care. • Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel. • Participates in the development of the plan of care and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings. • Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotion¬al factors related to health problems and death/dying issues. • Participates in discharge planning when needed. Assists patient and family/caregiver with securing durable power of attorney and with funeral arrangements, as needed. • Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Supervisor. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the application by clicking here.
  • Certified Hospice Aid
    The nursing assistant is a paraprofessional member of the interdisciplinary group who works under the supervision of a registered nurse and performs various services for a patient as necessary to meet the patient's personal needs and to promote comfort. The hospice aide is responsible for observing the patient, reporting these observations and documenting observations and care performed. The hospice aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity and safety of a patient's care. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Performing personal care needs after given a patient's assignment and attending to his/her requests promptly. If unable to perform a certain task, report to the primary care nurse immediately. • Meeting safety needs of patient and using equipment safely and properly (foot stools, side rails, O2 etc.) • Giving personal care including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos and changing bed linen as often as assigned. • Assisting in dressing and undressing patients as assigned. • Planning and preparing nutritious meals, including shopping, as assigned. • Assisting in feeding the patient as assigned. • Taking and recording oral, rectal and axillary temperatures, pulse, respiration and blood pressure when ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency. • Providing proper care and observation of patient's skin to prevent breakdown of tissue over bony prominence. • Reporting on patient's condition and significant changes to the assigned supervisory nurse. Also aware of the caregiver or other individuals living with the patient and interpersonal issues. • Assisting in ambulation and exercise as instructed by the primary care nurse or therapist. • Offering and assisting with bedpans and urinals. Providing assistance as assigned with light laundry needs. • Performing range of motion and other simple procedures as an extensional therapy service as ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency. • Providing respite for patient's/family/caregiver when on-site, as appropriate. • Keeping patient's living area clean and orderly, as assigned. • Adhering to the organization's documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct. • Respectful of patient and family/caregiver environment and patient's personal needs. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out our application by clicking here.
  • Hospice Chaplain
    The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Pathway Hospice, LLC, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner. • Facilitates the development in the interdisciplinary group plan of care to meet identified spiritual needs. • Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers. • Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors. • Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision. • Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors. • Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group. • Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care. • Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice care. • Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested. • Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team. • Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/ families/caregivers. • Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out our application by clicking here.
  • Volunteer
    The volunteer provides patient care and support services according to his/her experience and training and in compliance with organization policies. Essential Functions/Responsibilities • Serves as an integral member of the hospice interdisciplinary group amid various settings: home care; respite; inpatient, bereavement and/or administrative; office duties. • Participates in general orientation • Serves the patient and family/caregiver under guidance of Volunteer Coordinator and registered nurse (Case Manager) or as a part of the administrative team. • Serves as substitute family/caregiver in the home performing activities that the volunteer has been prepared for and has agreed to perform. The volunteer may do homemaker chores, run errands, and provide respite care as well. • Provides input into the plan of care and interdisciplinary meetings, as appropriate. • Documents as educated and instructed maintaining confidentiality. • Meets all health requirements set by Pathway Hospice, LLC. • Provides availability on a regular basis and/or keeping with the patient and family/caregiver needs. • Participates in volunteer support groups and/or educational in-services. • Maintains open communication and reports regularly to the Volunteer Coordinator. • Assignment of other duties (as needed) directed by the Volunteer Coordinator. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the volunteer application by clicking here.
Palliative FAQ
  • Nursing
    The registered nurse plans, organizes and directs hospice care 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 • Completes an initial assessment of patient and family to determine hospice needs. Provides a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es). • Provides professional nursing care by utilizing all elements of nursing process. • Assesses and evaluates patient’s status by: A. Writing and initiating plan of care B. Regularly re-evaluating patient and family/caregiver needs C. Revising the plan of care as necessary • Initiates the plan of care and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change. • Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis. • Develops a care plan that establishes goals, based on nursing diagnosis and incorporates palliative nursing actions. Includes the patient and the family in the planning process. • Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures. Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician in the physician’s plan of care. • Counsels the patient and family in meeting nursing and related needs. • Provides health care instructions to the patient as appropriate per assessment and plan. • Assists the patient with the activities of daily living and facilitates the patient’s efforts toward self-sufficiency and optional comfort care. • Acts as Case Manager when assigned by Clinical Supervisor and assumes responsibility to coordinate patient care for assigned caseload. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. Communication • Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given. Records pain/symptom management changes/outcomes as appropriate. • Communicates with the physician regarding the patient’s needs and reports changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physicians’ orders as required. • Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan. • Teaches the patient and family/caregiver self-care techniques as appropriate. Provides medication, diet and other instructions as ordered by the physician and recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers. Works in concert with the other hospice Interdisciplinary Group Members. • Provides and maintains a safe environment for the patient. • Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care. • Works in cooperation with the family/caregiver and hospice Interdisciplinary Team Members to meet the emotional needs of the patient and family/caregiver. • Attends Interdisciplinary Group meetings. Additional Duties • Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy. • Ensures that arrangements for equipment and other necessary items and services are available. • Supervises ancillary personnel and delegates responsibilities when required. • Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-service classes. • Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments. • Actively participates in quality management program. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the application by clicking here.
  • Medical Social Worker
    The medical social worker contracted or employed through the organization is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for medical social work services and for adherence to all conditions in the Service or Employment Agreement. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Assesses the psychosocial status of patients and families/caregivers related to the patient's terminal illness and environment and communicates findings to the registered nurse and other members of the interdisciplinary group. Provides an assessment in the patient's identified residence and assistance when this is not safe and another plan is required. • Carries out social evaluations and plans intervention based on evaluation findings. Counsels patient and family/caregivers as needed in relationship to stress, and other identified coping difficulties. • Maintains clinical records on all patients referred to social work. • Provides information and referral services for organization patients and families/caregivers regarding practical and environmental needs. • Provides information to patients and families/caregivers and community agencies. • Serves as liaison between patients and families/caregivers and community agencies. • Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care. • Maintains and develops contracts with public and private agencies as resources for patient and personnel. • Participates in the development of the plan of care and attends regularly scheduled interdisciplinary group meetings. • Assists physician and other team members in understanding significant social and emotion¬al factors related to health problems and death/dying issues. • Participates in discharge planning when needed. Assists patient and family/caregiver with securing durable power of attorney and with funeral arrangements, as needed. • Other duties as delegated by the Clinical Supervisor. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the application by clicking here.
  • Certified Hospice Aid
    The nursing assistant is a paraprofessional member of the interdisciplinary group who works under the supervision of a registered nurse and performs various services for a patient as necessary to meet the patient's personal needs and to promote comfort. The hospice aide is responsible for observing the patient, reporting these observations and documenting observations and care performed. The hospice aide will be assigned in a manner that promotes quality, continuity and safety of a patient's care. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Performing personal care needs after given a patient's assignment and attending to his/her requests promptly. If unable to perform a certain task, report to the primary care nurse immediately. • Meeting safety needs of patient and using equipment safely and properly (foot stools, side rails, O2 etc.) • Giving personal care including baths, back rubs, oral hygiene, shampoos and changing bed linen as often as assigned. • Assisting in dressing and undressing patients as assigned. • Planning and preparing nutritious meals, including shopping, as assigned. • Assisting in feeding the patient as assigned. • Taking and recording oral, rectal and axillary temperatures, pulse, respiration and blood pressure when ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency. • Providing proper care and observation of patient's skin to prevent breakdown of tissue over bony prominence. • Reporting on patient's condition and significant changes to the assigned supervisory nurse. Also aware of the caregiver or other individuals living with the patient and interpersonal issues. • Assisting in ambulation and exercise as instructed by the primary care nurse or therapist. • Offering and assisting with bedpans and urinals. Providing assistance as assigned with light laundry needs. • Performing range of motion and other simple procedures as an extensional therapy service as ordered with appropriate completed/demonstrated skills competency. • Providing respite for patient's/family/caregiver when on-site, as appropriate. • Keeping patient's living area clean and orderly, as assigned. • Adhering to the organization's documentation and care procedures and standards of personal and professional conduct. • Respectful of patient and family/caregiver environment and patient's personal needs. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out our application by clicking here.
  • Hospice Chaplain
    The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Pathway Hospice, LLC, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual counselors. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities • Assures spiritual assessment of patients and families/caregivers in the hospice program and appropriate services are rendered in a timely manner. • Facilitates the development in the interdisciplinary group plan of care to meet identified spiritual needs. • Provides direct spiritual care to patients and families/caregivers. • Serves as liaison and support to community chaplains and spiritual counselors. • Maintains records of spiritual care services utilization and related activities for quality assurance, program development, and policies and procedures review and revision. • Documents direct services and ongoing communication with community chaplains and spiritual counselors. • Attends patient care conference and interdisciplinary group meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary group. • Provides consultation, education, and support to the interdisciplinary group on spiritual care. • Recruits community chaplains, spiritual counselors, and spiritual care volunteers adequate to meet patient and family/caregiver needs by developing community contacts and offering education through congregations about hospice care. • Provides for funeral or memorial services for patients as requested. • Plans periodic memorial services to meet the needs of personnel, volunteers, and community clergy/spiritual counselors working with the hospice team. • Assists in supervision of spiritual care volunteers when assigned to patients/ families/caregivers. • Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out our application by clicking here.
  • Volunteer
    The volunteer provides patient care and support services according to his/her experience and training and in compliance with organization policies. Essential Functions/Responsibilities • Serves as an integral member of the hospice interdisciplinary group amid various settings: home care; respite; inpatient, bereavement and/or administrative; office duties. • Participates in general orientation • Serves the patient and family/caregiver under guidance of Volunteer Coordinator and registered nurse (Case Manager) or as a part of the administrative team. • Serves as substitute family/caregiver in the home performing activities that the volunteer has been prepared for and has agreed to perform. The volunteer may do homemaker chores, run errands, and provide respite care as well. • Provides input into the plan of care and interdisciplinary meetings, as appropriate. • Documents as educated and instructed maintaining confidentiality. • Meets all health requirements set by Pathway Hospice, LLC. • Provides availability on a regular basis and/or keeping with the patient and family/caregiver needs. • Participates in volunteer support groups and/or educational in-services. • Maintains open communication and reports regularly to the Volunteer Coordinator. • Assignment of other duties (as needed) directed by the Volunteer Coordinator. If you meet all of the essential functions/responsibilities above, fill out the volunteer application by clicking here.

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