On-Call Registered Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Hospice of Baton Rouge is seeking a compassionate and skilled On-Call Registered Nurse to join our dedicated team. The On-Call Nurse provides skilled nursing assessment, hospice care, and after-hours clinical support to promote patient comfort, dignity, and quality of life. This position coordinates after-hours and weekend patient care, including triage, nursing visits, urgent medications, durable medical equipment (DME), and admissions, in accordance with The Hospice of Baton Rouge policies, procedures, and applicable nursing practice requirements.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

On-Call Coverage & Triage

- Provide after-hours, weekend, and holiday on-call coverage as scheduled and in accordance with THBR policies and procedures.

- Receive and respond promptly to patient-care needs, escalations, and visit requests communicated through IntellaTriage or other approved agency communication systems.

- Review available clinical information, communicate with patients and families as needed, and determine the appropriate response to identified needs.

- Provide clear clinical instructions to patients and families and conduct follow-up communication as needed to confirm understanding and address ongoing concerns.

Clinical Visits & Patient Care

- Complete or coordinate required after-hours nursing visits for symptom management, falls, injuries, changes in condition, actively dying patients, deaths, and other urgent patient needs.

- Respond appropriately to family requests and patient-care concerns, including conducting visits when required based on the nature or frequency of calls.

- Provide appropriate nursing interventions and symptom management while promoting patient comfort, safety, and continuity of care.

Medications, DME & After-Hours Resources

- Coordinate urgent medication needs with pharmacies, including ordering, delivery, pickup, and other approved options, and escalate unresolved needs appropriately.

- Coordinate after-hours DME, supplies, and equipment needs, including ordering, replacement, troubleshooting, and delivery when necessary for patient safety, comfort, or symptom management.

- Maintain familiarity with after-hours pharmacy, DME, inpatient, provider, and other agency resources and follows established processes for accessing these services.

Admissions & Care Coordination

- Perform after-hours and weekend admissions as assigned or needed, including completion of required admission documentation, electronic consents, and applicable addendums in SmartMD.

- Maintain competency with the admission process and ensure required admission materials and supplies are readily available while on call.

- Collaborate with Case Managers and other hospice team members to support continuity and quality of patient care.

- Communicate significant patient events, changes in condition, unresolved concerns, admissions, deaths, and other pertinent information to the appropriate Case Manager, Clinical Manager, provider, and/or Director of Nursing.

Documentation, Communication & Quality

- Document all calls, visits, admissions, and other required clinical activities accurately in myUnity within 24 hours of occurrence.

- Complete appropriate handoff of outstanding patient-care needs to the next on-call clinician or weekday clinical team.

- Participate in IDT meetings, QAPI activities, performance improvement initiatives, mandatory in-services, and other required education and training as directed.

- Maintain competency with IntellaTriage, myUnity, SmartMD, Qliq, and other systems used in the performance of on-call responsibilities.

Qualifications

Education:

- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

Certification:

- Current Louisiana RN license required.

- Current CPR certification required.

Work Experience:

- Minimum of two years of recent professional nursing experience required.

- At least one year of experience in an acute care, oncology, or hospice setting strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

- Knowledge of hospice nursing principles, clinical assessment, symptom management, medication management, and the physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs of patients and families.

- Knowledge of hospice admissions, care coordination, durable medical equipment (DME), interdisciplinary team processes, and applicable organizational policies and regulatory requirements.

- Skilled in clinical assessment, telephone triage, symptom management, and determining appropriate interventions and levels of care based on patient needs.

- Strong communication and coordination skills when working with patients, families, physicians, interdisciplinary team members, pharmacies, DME providers, and other care resources.

- Proficiency in timely, accurate clinical documentation and use of electronic medical records and required clinical systems.

- Ability to exercise sound independent clinical judgment, prioritize changing patient-care needs, and make appropriate decisions during after-hours operations.

- Ability to remain calm, professional, and compassionate during urgent or emotionally challenging situations while coordinating multiple patient-care needs.

- Ability to work independently during on-call hours while maintaining effective communication, collaboration, and continuity of care with the interdisciplinary team.

Work Environment:

- Work is performed in patient homes, agency facilities, and other care settings as required by patient needs.

- Position requires travel between patient locations and operation of a motor vehicle.

- Work may involve exposure to varying weather conditions, communicable diseases, bodily fluids, and hazardous materials associated with patient care.

Drug-Free Workplace

The Hospice of Baton Rouge is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and drug-free workplace. As a condition of employment, all final candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening in accordance with organizational policy.

Because of the safety-sensitive nature of the care we provide, applicants who test positive for marijuana, including medical marijuana prescribed under state law, are not eligible for employment.