Triage LVN

At Community Hospice & Health Services and its affiliates, Community Hospice & Health Services Foundation, and CHI Management, Inc. (herein referred to collectively as "CHHS") you will find a family-based and compassionate work environment. Our goal is to provide a wonderful work experience that allows our employees to thrive by feeling engaged and fulfilled each day. CHHS is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice and community-based palliative care provider in the Central Valley.

We are proud to indicate that CHHS has been supporting and providing compassionate and quality services to our community since 1979. Our mission is to embrace individuals and families facing life-changing journeys, enhancing quality of life for all. CHHS is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accredited Program).

Department: Patient Care Services

REPORTS TO: Patient Care Manager

SUMMARY: As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the LVN works under the general direction of the Patient Care Manager and the Registered Nurse to gather patient information and to provide treatments and care within their scope of practice in order to maximize the comfort and health of patients and families. The Triage LVN engages and works will all patients and teams including outpatient teams and the In-Patient Unit providing quality patient care and supporting hospice education to patients and families, including a comprehensive explanation of the hospice benefit and informed consent.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform home visits to gather patient/family information for the RN Case Manager and provide teaching and perform patient care tasks and treatments under the direction of the RN Case Manager or Patient Care Manager.
• Maintain regular communication to RN Case Manager and/or Patient Care Manager and keep informed of significant patient changes and any unusual problematic patient/family issues.
• Participate in in-services, workshops, and clinical meetings to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care.
• Visit Notes will be submitted in a timely manner.
• Cooperate with regulatory requirements for supervisory visits by the RN case manager.
• Follows all Community Hospice & Health Services policies and procedures including, but not limited to, safety, infection control, privacy and confidentiality, and HIPAA.
• Must maintain LVN license in accordance with federal, state and local laws and must act only within the scope of his or her state license. All personnel qualifications must be kept current at all times.
• Responsible to make triage calls/visits as assigned during scheduled work hours.
• Initiate communication with attending physicians, other hospice team members and other community agencies as needed to coordinate optimal care and use of resources for patient/family.
• Provides an explanation of the hospice benefit, informed consent for hospice services, collects initial information to support the Admission RN in completing the initial admission assessment, while reinforcing the education patient/family has received regarding the scope of the hospice care and the role of the hospice care team members.
• Maintains a professional appearance of self and working area; exhibits appropriate behavior with patients and families, i.e., courteous, thoughtful and professional at all times.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts as assigned by the Patient Care Manager.
• All other duties as assigned by the Patient Care Manager.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Customer service orientation. Understanding of the concept of internal and external customers.
• Observant and detail oriented. Able to see changes in patient condition, document them accurately, and report them promptly.
• Able to work in fast paced, emotional environment.
• Able to visit patients in any environment and provide care in a nonjudgmental manner.
• Able to tolerate frequent changes in schedules and plans.
• Team player. Considers the needs of all patients and families assigned to the team. Offers to help coworkers.
• Ability to work with an interdisciplinary team.
• Good oral communication skills including the ability to listen empathically.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation of an accredited school of nursing LVN program.
• One-year current LVN experience.
• Wound and skin care experience highly desirable.
• Current California LVN license.
• Current California driver's license and automobile insurance.
• Possesses and maintains current CPR certification.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The main environment for this position is in the patients' homes, which vary in levels of cleanliness, accessibility, and climate control. The employee may be exposed to virus, disease and infection from patients. The employee may experience situations, with emotionally disturbed, substance abuse, serious illness, and deceased patients. While performing the duties of this position, the employee will travel by automobile and is exposed to changing weather conditions.

WORK SCHEDULE: Position is Full-time, required to work a regularly scheduled 40-hour workweek, with overtime required to meet patient needs. Part-time and per diem positions may be used to meet patient needs. Position may also require rotating weekends and holidays.