Palliative Care RN - PRN, On-call

Practices professional nursing by the performance of both independent nursing functions and delegated medical functions in accordance with accepted practice standards. Such functions include the initiation and performance of nursing care through health promotion, supportive or restorative care, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease, ailment, pain, injury, deformity, and physical or mental condition using specialized knowledge, judgment, and skill involving the application of biological, physical, social, and behavioral science principles. CRS 12-38-103 (10). Makes members/patients and their needs a primary focus of ones actions; develops and sustains productive member/patient relationships. Actively seeks information to understand member/patient circumstances, problems, expectations, and needs. Builds rapport and cooperative relationships with members/patients. Considers how actions or plans will affect members; responds quickly to meet member/patient needs and resolves problems. Responsible for providing palliative care, in close collaboration with an interdisciplinary palliative care team, to patients with an advanced illness. Supports and coordinates the comprehensive and effective delivery of Palliative Care Services, according to scope and assigned tasks, in various settings, including inpatient program, home-based program and outpatient clinic program. Strong interpersonal skills needed to work with patients, families, medical providers, hospital staff and community partners.

• This position, knows and complies with all Kaiser Permanente quality, safety, and emergency policies and procedures. Demonstrates quality and effectiveness in work habits and clinical practice in every interaction with patients, colleagues, providers, and leadership. Ensures patient safety in the preparation and provisioning of care related to but not limited to medications including the consistent use of 5 rights and 3 checks of medication administration, procedures, infection prevention, fall prevention, including consistent use of two patient identifiers and procedural time outs. Reports safety hazards, accidents and incidents, and unsafe working conditions promptly.


• (Adopted from Colorado State Nurse Practice Act CRS 12-38-103) Evaluating health status through the collection and assessment of health data CRS 12-38-103 (10). Collects subjective and objective data. Analyzes reports, and record data. Uses data to identify health care problems and create plan. Prioritizes patients needs.


• Executing delegated medical functions which delivers aspects of care that implement and are consistent with the medical plan as prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized physician or person acting under the physicians delegated authority.


• Administers intravenous therapy and other medications. Providing therapy and treatment that is supportive and restorative to life and wellbeing either directly to the patient or indirectly through consultation with, delegation to (per Colorado State Board of Nursing rules and regulations for delegation), supervision of, or teaching others.


• Referring to medical or community agencies per Kaiser Permanente guidelines those patients who need further treatment, evaluation, or assistance. Review and monitor therapy and treatment patient plans. Initiate appropriate consultations and/or actions accordingly. facilitates the coordination and integration of care between health care services; manages populations of patients to ensure appropriate utilization of health care resources.


• Leads health care team by influence and role modeling integrated effective nursing practice, service, innovation and providing outstanding support for physician practices.


• Patient advocate.


• Ability to identify a Palliative Care emergency and is knowledgeable in appropriate action steps and treatments either by Triage phone call or in person with the patient.


• Perform Palliative Care focused nursing assessment of patients with life threatening/life limiting illness to determine and coordinate most appropriate care needs.


• Ability to screen patients to determine if they meet Palliative Care criteria either as in-patient or out-patient. If determined to meet out-patient criteria, helping to determine which outpatient programs would best meet their needs.


• Meet with patient/family to assist in identifying personal goals of care (GOC), preferences for End-of-Life care and promoting communication regarding advanced directives.


• Communicate the Palliative care focused care plan to the Interdisciplinary team (IDT) or providers accepting the patient for the next level of care. Skilled in working collaboratively with referring providers and contracted partners to build a strong and effective working relationship.


• Hospital setting - Attends Critical Care rounds daily with (IDT) to assist with interventions for complex patients, in conjunction with the Palliative care In-patient team.


• Acts as Palliative Care liaison nurse with Kaiser Providers and resources within the Kaiser system.


• Participates as a team member in Palliative care focused program development and evaluation.


• Provides Palliative care education/training to both internal and external customers. Provides health teaching and health counseling to patients and/or their families.


• Conducts telephone calls backs to patients requiring follow-up care.


• Assists in collection, data entry and maintaining information for monitoring program outcomes.


• Ability to identify potential problems in all care delivery systems that provide service to patients in Palliative Care. Assists with development and implementation of solutions for serviceproviders and staff.