Start of Care RN III - Home Health FT Days

The Start of Care registered nurse plans and organizes home health care services based on the OASIS assessment, history and physical and medication reconciliation, and the unique healthcare, communication, and learning needs of the patient and their caregiver and representatives. The Start of Care nurse builds from the resources of the community to plan and arrange services to meet the needs of individuals and families within their homes and communities.

Core Competencies

• Adheres to infection prevention guidelines
  
  
• Adheres to policies, procedures, and standards of practice to deliver safe and optimal care
  
  
• Assesses patient history, physiological, and psychosocial status
  
  
• Communicates with the patient, family, medical staff and others during the continuum of care
  
  
• Complies with Joint Commission’s national patient safety goals
  
  
• Complies with organizational quality dashboard/benchmarking goals
  
  
• Interprets common variables affecting patient care and follows reporting process
  
  
• Maintains regulatory compliance consistent with quality standards and ethical obligations of the profession
  
  
• Participates in activities in alignment with the Magnet Model
  
  
• Participates in organizational activities
  
  
• Participates in Peer Review
  
  
• Participates in professional development activities
  
  
• Performs as a preceptor in an active and engaged manner
  
  
• Provides age-specific individualized care that supports protection from harm and complies with patient safety centered interventions/bundles
  
  
• Provides patient and family education throughout the care of patient
  
  
• Uses critical thinking to formulate and carry out a care plan according to patient needs
  
  
• Utilizes resources in an economical manner
  
  
• Utilizes safe administration of medications
  
  
• Utilizes Safe Patient Handling
  
  

Department Specific Competencies

• Completes an initial assessment of patient and family/representative to determine home health care needs.
  
  
• Conducts a complete physical assessment and history of current and previous illness(es).
  
  
• Conducts an environmental assessment following The Joint Commission Standards to ensure the home is safe and appropriate for the delivery of care.
  
  
• Completes the OASIS Assessment Tool and validates accuracy before submission to the Performance Improvement Coordinator.
  
  
• Initiates the plan of care after discussion with the Primary Care Physician and Specialists managing the patient’s care.
  
  
• Performs a comprehensive medication reconciliation with patient and family/representative and physicians involved in care
  
  
• Uses health assessment data to determine nursing diagnosis and related goals and interventions.
  
  
• 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/representative in the planning process.
  
  
• Administers medications and treatments as prescribed by the physician.
  
  
• Determines need for translation services or communication aides and arranges for the appropriate resources to meet these needs.
  
  
• Completes the appropriate consents and regulatory notices after explaining home health specific patient rights and responsibilities in a manner appropriate to the patient, family/representative.
  
  
• Explains the patient’s financial responsibility for the services proposed.
  
  
• Provides written health care instructions to the patient, family/representative as appropriate per assessment and plan of care.
  
  
• Identifies initial discharge planning needs as part of the care plan development.
  
  
• Communicates with the physician(s) regarding the patient’s needs and reports any changes in the patient’s condition; obtains/receives physician’s orders as required.
  
  
• Communicates with community health related persons to coordinate the care plan.
  
  
• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy.
  
  
• Ensures that arrangements for equipment and supplies and other necessary items and services are completed and communicates to the assigned Case Manager or Team Manager.
  
  
• Prepares initial home health aide care plan and provides instruction to the assigned CHHA.
  
  
• Provides Start of Care report to Manager immediately following assessment to facilitate scheduling of Case Manager and other disciplines.
  
  
• Completes and corrects all documentation within 24 hours.
  
  

Education

DegreeProgramCollege DiplomaNursing
Additional InformationCompletion of an OASIS C2 course with one year of hire

Experience

Number of Years ExperienceType of Experience2nursing
Additional Information6 months in home health

License / Certification Requirements

Registered Nurse LicenseBCLS or ACLS CertificationDrivers license, auto insurance and reliable transportation

Compensation Range: 

$55.80 - 82.88 / Hour