Manager Nurse
Resume:
Rhonda L. Jones RN, BSN, MS, CHPN, WCC
West Chicago, Illinois 60185
Summary of Qualifications
Within the role as a Palliative Medicine Consult Nurse my responsibilities include management of outpatient clinic with hands on patient care, coordination with oncology staff for appointments, resources, symptom management and scheduling appointments. This role also provides the opportunity to speak with patient to their needs, meeting with hospitalized patients for transition at discharge and facilitate the transition at discharge with various agencies and team support for the palliative team as well as for the hospital staff. I am also currently working in subacute rehab on the weekends for additional hands on patient care and wound care.
My experience as a Hospice and Palliative Nurse and manager has provided me with the many opportunities. Within each of these roles, I have acquired vast knowledge and experience to care for patients in the field, private nursing facilities, hospice inpatient unit, and as a hospital liaison and team manager. My varied clinical background has provided me with the knowledge of Medicare Conditions of Participation regulation and commercial insurance reimbursement guidelines for the hospice patient. Understanding of the criteria and guidelines for hospice along with the knowledge and application of symptom management for the end of life patient provided the staff guidance and the patient and family with excellent care. With this experience, I am able to evaluate patients for all levels of hospice care with use of prognostic indicators and review the patient’s past medical history as well as effectively communicate and collaborate with physicians, ancillary staff and the interdisciplinary health care and hospice team. I am motivated to continually advance my knowledge base to provide quality leadership and end of life care for patients and families.
As team manager duties included the review of the clinical eligibility as determined by Medicare, Medicaid and collaborate with commercial insurance case managers to provide care at the time of admission and recertification throughout the disease trajectory. This role included management and training of the team caring for the patients and families admitted to hospice. As manager, I reviewed the clinical documentation, provided field site visits, and reviewed billing for ancillary services. This knowledge provided me with the ability to apply clinical expertise, Medicare and Commercial insurance and guide staff with training and mentoring.
Education
2014 WCC Wound Care Certification
2008-2010 University of St. Francis: Master of Science in Health Administration
2009 ELNEC Certified, EPEC Certified
2005-2007 Lewis University: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with Honors
2000-2002 College of DuPage: AAS, Nursing, with Honors
2004, 2008 & 2016 HPNA Certifications
Memberships
Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Nursing Experience
Current: I am currently working as the Admissions Manager for Amita Rainbow Hospice.
2016-2020: Northwestern Medicine-Delnor:
The role of Palliative Consult Nurse is two-fold. As the in-patient nurse I assist the palliative team as well as the hospital staff with determining palliative needs and meeting with families. Within this role, I meet with the staff on a daily basis to collaborate, discuss, and formulate plans for post-acute care at the time of discharge. Frequent communication with case managers, home health, hospice, and facilities provides coordination of a safe and appropriate discharge plan for the patient. In addition, I assist with obtaining health care power of attorney and completion of POLST forms. In addition, I provide staff in-services and palliative education on the nursing units. In the ambulatory setting, I assist with rooming palliative patients for the providers, answer phone calls from patients and families that require assistance with prescription needs, appointments, and forward questions and concerns to the providers. In addition, within this role, I obtain prior approvals for medications through collaborative conversation with insurance providers in behalf of the patient.
2012-2015 Journeycare (Formerly Hospice of Northeastern Illinois) Team Manager
The role of team manager is dynamic and complex. Supporting the staff for the south territory involves clinical and administrative duties. Administrative duties include scheduling, payroll and mileage for staff, and approval of accounts payables for the specific needs of the patients residing in the south territory. Clinical support includes staff education, supervisory visits, joint visits, and facilitate weekly interdisciplinary team. As a member of the Journey Care Speaker Bureau, I provide hospice and palliative in-services to facilities, physicians, and for those within the community seeking information.
2011-2012 Journey Care Patient Care Liaison
The role of patient care liaison involves meeting with patients and families within the hospital setting to evaluation the patient’s condition and provide an explanation of not only hospice benefits but assess for possible palliative care. The role includes collaboration with the hospital staff and physicians, review of the patients medical history and needs assessment. I have knowledge of extensive discharge planning for smooth transition to home, nursing home, or in-patient unit. This role also includes care for the patient when general in-patient of level of care was initiated. Completion of documentation in a timely manner provides the hospice staff with a detailed account of the patient’s condition and the family needs.
2008-2011CNS Home Health and Hospice
Hospice and Palliative Nurse Liaison at Central DuPage Hospital
Assisting in the Developed Hospice and Palliative Liaison Nurse role for CNS at CDH provides me with the on-site availability to improve care for the terminally ill patient. Attending and facilitating care conferences, collaborate with providers, provide staff in-services and participate in a new hospice and hospital staff orientation provides a seamless approach to transitioning to palliative and hospice care. Within the realm of this position I am able to educate, implement and serve as a consultant to hospital staff and physicians regarding hospice and palliative care programs, symptom management and Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance criteria for reimbursement. Direct patient contact provided me with the ability to determine appropriateness for hospice or palliative admission while advocating for the patient and assessing patient status during their course of hospitalization. This role also allows me to obtain consents, discharge patients to home or nursing homes for routine care and initiate general in-patient level of care for the management of symptoms as well as order medical equipment and order medication. Due to the on-site nature of this position, I am frequently consulted to meet with the patients and families in the emergency room, intensive care unit, physicians’ treatment center, behavioral health, physician offices, and all general medical units within the hospital. Within this role, I am able to assess and identify risk management and assist with resolving conflict. I am also a member of the CDH Ethics Committee and PRN Pain Nurse resource for hospital and hospice staff. I attended twice-weekly tumor board as well as weekly palliative rounds. I am currently in the process of developing a hospital based hospice team to promote and advance the level of service available to hospice patients within the hospital setting.
2007-2008 Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Supervisor, Evening Shift
Within the realm of this interim role I was able to assist in training the new staff prior to the opening of the 15 bed unit. During this time, I provided training to the nursing staff regarding clinical evaluations, hospice admissions for all levels of care, daily nursing visits, and discharge planning. Training also incorporated how to communicate bad news and communication with physicians, team members, ancillary staff, and vendors. My role as supervisor involves the coordination of the interdisciplinary staffing, assigning staff to provide adequate coverage, and caring for a team of patients on a daily basis. As the shift supervisor, problem solving, leadership and clinical skills provided assistance to the staff and collaboration with management. Other responsibilities include orientation and education of staff, assisting with interviews and assisting with performance improvement. Within this role, I am able to assess and identify risk management and assist with resolving conflict.
2005-2007 Heartland Hospice (formerly Rush Hospice Partners)
Rush University Admission Nurse & Inpatient Case Manager
My employment at Heatland Hospice/Hospice Partners as the Rush University Inpatient Admission Nurse/Case Manager involved the daily assessment of hospice patients, consultation with prospective hospice patients and collaborating with hospice and hospital staff to meet the needs of the patients and families. This role included extensive communication with physicians and multiple disciplines within the hospital setting and a thorough understanding of hospice guidelines and prognostic indicators for admission. Most importantly, assimilation to each individualized situation was crucial to collaboration and seamless continuity of care and essential collaboration with hospital staff to provide physical, emotional, spiritual, and ethical support when needed. I also provided the discharge planning needs of the patient when ready for transition to home or nursing facility. I was able to coordinate a discharge with ordering medications, DME, and transportation. I also provided verbal report to receiving staff and tam members and completion of documentation. I was frequently involved with providing hospice in-services to hospital staff.
2003-2005 Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care Admission Coordinator and Field Nurse Case Manager:
In the role for Field Nurse, I provided hospice nursing care to homebound and nursing home patients on a daily basis. I was able to create and foster a climate of comfort and trust while integrating clinical skills as well as provide for the emotional needs of the patient and family. Continual evaluation of patient comfort, ongoing assessment for changes needed in the level of care was implemented as necessary and communication with the physicians and the team was frequent. I attended care plan conferences for nursing home patients and attended quarterly visits with ALS patients at the ALS clinic when needed.
This position provided staff support within the referral department as well as support the field staff. This role included addressing clinical issues that arose during the referral process such as knowledge of prognostic indicators and review of medical records to assist in determining hospice diagnoses through collaboration with the physician. Managing the workflow from the referral process through the admission process involved collaboration of care with office staff, field staff, facility staff, health care providers and patients and families.
2002-2003 Alexian Brother Medical Center Oncology Staff Nurse:
I was able to provide skilled and compassionate nursing care to oncological medical-surgical and hospice patients during their acute hospitalizations. This role incorporated interpretation and implementation of physician’s orders and the administration of medications and treatments. Careful monitoring and prompt treatment for major complications included pain management, neutropenia, septicemia, and frequent blood transfusions. Nursing on this unit allowed me to be instrumental in acquiring hospice care for appropriate patients; and work closely with hospice patients, families, and physicians. Although I attended the biotherapy and chemotherapy course and passed the certification, I found hospice nursing to be my passion.
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