Registered Practical Nurse - Hospice

Life at Kensington Health  

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Job Overview

As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the RPN provides direct nursing care to the residents of the Kensington Hospice in accordance with the established policies and procedures and their professional scope of practice. The RPN is responsible for assessing total physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs; planning, documenting and implementing plan of care; evaluating effectiveness of care plan and making recommendations for changes where necessary.

As a member of the interdisciplinary team the RPN will work collaboratively with the palliative individuals, their families and all other members towards the achievement of identifying care goals and the enhancement of quality of life.

The RPN assumes the care of those residents who are stable/unstable in collaboration with the Registered Nurse (RN).

The RPN is expected to be a positive role model for staff, volunteers, guests, family members, health care professionals and the community.

Shift Assignment: Day Shift 7:00am to 7:00pm / Night Shift 7:00pm to 7:00am

Responsibilities

Quality Team

• Be accountable to the Executive Director, Community, Hospice and Palliative Care for providing nursing care and clinical intervention for the care and services delivered to the residents.

• Demonstrate a commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of the Kensington Health Centre.

• Function in accordance with Guidelines for Ethical Behaviour in Nursing.

• Provide supervision of unregistered staff to meet the individual needs of the residents using knowledge, skill, decision-making and communication techniques.

• Practice within the RPN scope of practice and pre-set policies and procedures.

• Participate in the Hospice programs, e.g. Occupational Health and Safety Program, Quality Monitoring and Analysis Program, and Fire Safety.

• Promote a co-operative working environment.

• Participate in the development and implementation of education for colleagues, residents and families.

• Serve as resource person for other Personal Care staff in identifying and solving resident care problems.

• Be flexible in the event of an unforeseen staffing shortage.

• Evaluate the care provided and participate with the Interdisciplinary Team in the evaluation of resident care.

• Participate in continuous quality improvement projects by identifying resident issues, collecting data and evaluating the resident care program.

• Participate as an active member on nursing and hospice committees for the improvement of resident care.

• Participate in the orientation and ongoing education of Hospice staff, students and volunteers by providing information and acting as a preceptor as assigned.

• Identify self-learning needs and attend educational programs to maintain and enhance clinical competency.

• Participate in policy and procedure development.

• Assist in maintaining a safe environment for residents and families, staff and volunteers by adhering to established safety and emergency practices as well as policies and procedures of the Kensington Hospice.

• Responsible for working safely in compliance with accepted safe work practices, procedures and legislated health and safety standards. Employees must: use and wear the equipment, protective devices and personal protective equipment as required; report hazards, accidents, and the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device; attend all required health and safety training; and follow all established safe work procedures.

Innovation and Leadership

• Provide input to the development and revision of Personal Care policies and procedures and communicate changes to staff.

• Facilitate team building and promote change and innovative ideas.

• Use scientific knowledge in a systematic approach to identifying problems and in problem solving.

• Seek out opportunities to maintain competency and to continuously learn, taking an active role in continuous quality improvement.

• Participate in research projects and contribute to the implementation and evaluation of research projects.

• Take an active role in continuous quality improvement.

• Seek organizational excellence by contributing new ideas.

Person-Centered Care

• Support a resident living environment that is equitable and safe and provides privacy, dignity, individuality and safeguarding of personal choice.

• Identify opportunities for resident participation in decisions that affect the residents’ rights and lifestyle and assist staff in encouraging the residents’ participation in the decision-making process.

• Demonstrate ability to assist patients, family members or other clients with concern and empathy, respecting their confidentiality and privacy and communicating in a courteous and respectful manner.

• Maintain positive communication with the families and/or responsible parties of residents on a regular basis to keep them aware and informed of the status of their family member.

• Provide support and/or assistance to the residents to meet their needs and expectations as per the residents’ individual plan of care in the activities of daily living, senses and comfort, mobility, elimination, treatments and care routines.

• Contribute to the assessment, development and ongoing review of the residents individual care plan. In collaboration with the RN, the RPN recognizes actual and potential challenges and identified strengths of residents and their family. With the RN, plans, implements and performs interventions.

• Collect information from a variety of sources using skill of observation, communication and physical assessment to enable the provision of appropriate nursing care.

• Recognize deviations from predicted client responses and consults appropriately with the RN.

• Assume responsibility for medication administration, narcotic control, removal of discontinued, unused or expired medication, application of treatments and dressings, transcription of Physician orders, reordering of medications, preparation and other skills.

• Communicate and consult with members of the interdisciplinary team regarding resident care.

• Provide leadership, management and support to the PSW and volunteers.

• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, including family conferences.

• Act as an advocate to protect and promote the resident and family rights to autonomy, respect, privacy, dignity and access to information.

• Respect and use sensitivity in spiritual, cultural and ethnic aspects of a resident’s life.

• Actively participate in all aspects of resident care.

• Document timely and accurate reports of relevant observations including resident and family teaching and evaluation of care.

• Promote an environment in which the health care team works co-operatively and supportively.

• Assume other related duties as assigned by the Vice President, Residential and Community Care, Director of Hospice Care or the RN.

Community Partnerships

• Raise community awareness of hospice/palliative care and of the services provided by the Kensington Hospice, through tours of the home, participation in community and hospice events and educational opportunities.

• Establish and maintain good human relations with professional and non-professional staff, residents, families, volunteers and the community.

• Adhere to policy and procedures of KHC to ensure confidentiality and privacy of information in public places.

• Provide accurate information to clients and adhere to policy and procedures of KH.

• In building strong community relationships, attend KH community and cultural events.

Financially Responsible

• Actively participate in the fundraising initiative of the Kensington Hospice.

• Support the budget for the KH and work within its parameters.

• Provide input into the need and use of equipment and supplies required for residents.

• Assist with inventory control.

• Ensure health-related equipment and supplies are well-maintained and sufficient in number.

• Assist with the preparation of the Personal Care budgets and support the budget of the Home Area.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate in a sensitive and compassionate manner.

• Specialty skills for end-of-life symptom management (i.e. CADD / tenchkoff).

• Comfortable in working alongside and supporting volunteers and Personal Support Workers.

• Able to organize and prioritize work.

• Highly developed in problem solving and conflict management skills.

• Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to work with resident/family living with dying from advanced illness.

• Ability and commitment to work with a interdisciplinary team and highly developed team building skills.

• Ability to work independently as a professional and well as within a team.

• Fluent in verbal and written English language.

• Multilingual facility is an asset.

Required Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge about and committed to the hospice philosophy of care.

• Recent palliative/hospice care experience (minimum 1 year).

• Experience with palliative pain and symptom management.

• Computer literate in Microsoft Office and Excel.

Required Professional Designation/Certificate:

• Current certification of competence of the College of Nurses of Ontario and in good standing.

• Post RPN education in palliative care preferred.

• Basic Life Support Certification.

• Certified in medication administration: IM/SC/IV or willingness to expand competency.

• Current Medication Certificate and is physically able to perform duties: lifting, able to stand, bend, squat, kneel / able to assist with standing, walking, sitting and positioning.

Kensington Health is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from equity seeking groups. Kensington Health is committed to providing reasonable accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this in your cover letter.