Registered Nurse Palliative Care

POSITION SUMMARY:

The RN at Providence Hospital is a Regulated Healthcare Professional under the Regulated Healthcare Professionals Act (Ontario) and is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care to meet the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, cultural and social needs of the patient/client. The RN practices in collaboration with other members of the health care team and is accountable and responsible for her/his professional actions and ongoing professional development. The RN uses her/his knowledge, communication, leadership and decision making skills to meet the health needs of patient/clients, and families in Providence Hospital.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITES:

Patient/client and family care provision

The RN establishes a relationship in which the patient/client and family feels safe and respected. She/he advocates on behalf of the patient/client & family ensuring consideration of their perspective in all health care planning.

The RN, in collaboration with the patient/client & family and other staff:

• Practices from a perspective that is based on patient/client centered principles of choice, self-determination, privacy, dignity and self-worth, autonomy and independent, self-expression, freedom and stimulation;
• Respects the patient/clients right to privacy and confidentiality;
• Supports the patient/client & families right to direct the care provided;
• Systematically collects and analyzes data about the health of the patient/client for initial screening, for ongoing assessment, and selectively collaborates with the inter-professional team, for in-depth assessment in order to determine issues requiring intervention;
• Identifies priorities, target dates and strategies of interventions in order to contribute to the individualized care plan that achieves the best possible outcomes for each patient/client.
• Safely and competently implements relevant strategies and interventions as identified in the care plan;
• Systematically evaluates the patient/client's response to interventions and the extent to which outcomes have been achieved.
• Is aware of the medical history, needs, medications (effects and adverse effects) and plan of care for every patient/client in their care.
• Manages unstable and unpredictable patient/clients and situations using critical thinking and the resources at hand to identify early the need to conference with the interdisciplinary team for evolving patient/client instability or for support in determining next steps in a situation

Clinical Documentation:

• Documents in a timely and concise manner according to the current College of Nurses of Ontario standards and Providence Healthcare policies
• Reports changes and concerns in a patient/client's status or progress appropriately and in a timely way to the Physician and/or the Interprofessional team.
• Transcribes medical orders within Providence Healthcare policy

• Collaborates with the inter-professional team to complete relevant (e.g. NRS, MDS, Meditech RM&R) data entry and quality analysis as required.

Clinical Leadership/professional service

The RN demonstrates critical thinking, clinical leadership, clinical proficiency and professional service by:

• Promoting patient/client independence;
• Promoting patient/client autonomy by involving them and, where appropriate, their families in care planning, respecting their preferences and decisions regarding their care and lifestyle;
• Demonstrating the characteristics of values-based leadership such as dignity, trust, and respect ;
• Collaborating with the inter-professional team in the assessment/planning /implementation and evaluation of care;
• Assigning work and providing effective support and supervision to the Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), unregulated staff & students;
• Coaching and role modeling for colleagues, RPN, unregulated staff & students.

Care Coordination

The RN coordinates patient/client unit activities by:

• Working with the inter-professional team to identify the need for interventions/ consultations with internal and external care providers/services
• Working collaboratively within their scope of practice with Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs)and other health professionals as determined by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) guidelines, RNAO, RPNAO and endorsed by the NAC
• Coordinating and/or actively participating in the Interprofessional care planning activities regarding patient/client & family needs;
• Facilitating and coordinating the availability of staffing, and supplies/equipment for patient/client care.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Must be a member in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario. An undergraduate degree in Nursing is an asset. Nursing experience with the elderly population and persons with long term needs is desirable. Current BCLS certification is mandatory. Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) certificate in specialty area preferred.
• The RN requires a good understanding of Providence Healthcare's Mission, Philosophy, Vision and Values as well as a good understanding of Nursing's Philosophy, Goals and Objectives.
• Nursing experience with an older adult population and persons with chronic illness is desirable.
• The RN requires a good knowledge of nursing science including gerontological nursing and the ability to understand, analyze and use the following: ?The four universal concepts in Nursing's theoretical framework: nursing, person, health and environment;
• The principles of patient/client centered care e.g., self-determinations, autonomy;
• The nurses professional role and responsibilities;
• The phases of the nursing process including the principles underlying nursing interventions and knowledge of the normal aging process;
• Common and less common symptoms and health conditions related to the area she/he will be working in;
• Categories of individual functioning and transitions during: crisis, acute illness, day-to-day living, restoration, rehabilitation and dying;
• Physical assessment, rehabilitation principles, health maintenance, improvement and promotion;
• Major nursing and health issues including the delivery of health care resource management and the ethical and legislative framework that influence the situations within which RNs and RPNs function;
• Good and effective communication skills with patient/client's, families and co-workers with right to privacy and confidentiality;
• Leadership concepts and approaches including coaching, facilitation and mentoring
• The use of research findings and new knowledge in practice;
• Very good attendance record;
• Good performance record.