Discharge Nurse Educator- Full Time

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

• Identifies patients for teaching, discharge, and extended care facility needs. Collaborates with physicians, caregivers, patient, family, other departmental team members, and payor to proactively develop and implement a safe and appropriate discharge plan.

SUPERVISION: Reports directly to Director of Nursing

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Educate/Reiterate education on diagnosis.
• Use resources such as Truven, Ipad education.
• Ensure patient has a plan for how they will get their new prescriptions.
• Offer to have medication filled at our facility's pharmacy to ensure that the patient has access to their new medications before they are discharged from the hospital.
• If patient is low income, or no insurance offer to fill prescriptions at Moss pharmacy, where there are programs to help with affording medications.
• Go over medications to ensure patient understands what the medications are for and why they are taking them.
• Anticipate when patients are nearing discharge.
• Huddle with discharge planners, case management, social service.
• Round with providers.
• Communicate with assigned nurses/charge nurse/ PT.
• Educate on home care
• Educate on specific diagnosis
• Educate on new medicates, make sure able to afford medications.
• Educate on DME.
• Make sure preferred pharmacy documented and updated.
• Review previous day's discharges to check for hospital follow up appointments.
• Ensure any patient discharged to home has follow up appointment.
• Identify patient criteria for follow up phone calls: Patients discharged in last 72-96 hours; Patients discharged to home; History of frequent re-admissions.
• Make follow up phone calls to patients regarding, medications, appointments, DME, Home Health, etc.

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• RN or LPN with 5 years med/surg experience
• Current Louisiana Nursing license
• BLS-CPR certified
• Med/Surg Certification preferred

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Work requires a variety of physical activities including sitting, standing and walking.
• Bending, stooping, and lifting is minimal.
• The work environment may be physically confining.
• Must have normal hearing or utilize adaptive hearing devices if duties require listening with a stethoscope to discern breath sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds.
• Visual acuity required for a variety of activities.
• Ability to do shift work as required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

“Experience Memorial” is more than a slogan, it’s the care we provide our patients and it’s the commitment to our community and our team members. As a nationally certified Great Place to Work, at Lake Charles Memorial Health System you will have the opportunity to be a part of an organizational culture that supports not only exceptional patient care but also the well-being and professional growth of our employees. Join us and be a part of a team where your contributions are valued, your growth is nurtured, and your success is celebrated.

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