Field RN, Brownsville (Cameron County)

WellMed, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Supportive Care RN or Case Manager to join our team in Rio Grande Valley, TX. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.

As a member of the Optum Care Delivery team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

At Optum, you’ll have the clinical resources, data and support of a global organization behind you so you can help your patients live healthier lives. Here, you’ll work alongside talented peers in a collaborative environment that is guided by diversity and inclusion while driving towards the Quadruple Aim. We believe you deserve an exceptional career, and will empower you to live your best life at work and at home. Experience the fulfillment of advancing the health of your community with the excitement of contributing new practice ideas and initiatives that could help improve care for millions of patients across the country. Because together, we have the power to make health care better for everyone. Join us and discover how rewarding medicine can be while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Supportive Care RN coordinates care and provides initial ongoing nursing assessment of the patient and family needs and coordination of the patient’s plan of care with interdisciplinary team members and the Supportive Care attending physician.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducts medical home visits on established Supportive Care patients performing a hands-on exam at each visit
• Conducts urgent/acute visits on established Supportive Care patients with the goal of keeping the patient out of the hospital in order to receive the best medical care at home
• Provides ongoing assessments of the impact of life-limiting and/or chronic illness(es) on the patient’s physical, functional, psychosocial and environmental needs
• Assess for caregiver burnout, and provide community resources when appropriate
• Implement the individualized plan of care and recommend revisions to the plan as necessary 
• Ability to perform procedures, to include, but not limited to: 
  • a. Wound care and dressing changes 
  • b. Phlebotomy 
  • c. Injection (B12, vaccines) 
• Ability to conduct an advanced care discussion with a patient and their family and properly document their wishes in the electronic medical record
• Consults and educates the patient/family and other caregivers regarding the disease process, pain and symptom management, end of life care and processes for dealing with issues of ethical concern
• Initiates appropriate preventive and rehabilitative nursing procedures when appropriate
• Ensure continual assessment of patient and family needs from admission to Supportive Care throughout the course of care
• Provides ongoing evaluation of the patient and family/caregiver response to care, and recommends alteration of the plan when necessary
• Attends the interdisciplinary meeting and is a crucial and vocal member of the team
• Solves problems by gathering and/or reviewing facts and selecting the best solution from identified alternatives. Decision making is usually based on prior practice or policy, with some interpretation.
• Applies individual reasoning to the solution of a problem devising or modifying processes and writing procedures
• Conducts telephonic nursing follow up and case management when necessary
• Serves as a resource or consultant for LVN
• Attends educational offerings to keep abreast of palliative care and complies with licensing requirements
• Establishes a trusting relationship with identified patients, caregivers, clinic staff members and physicians
• Collaborates with the providers to recommend policies, procedures and standards which affect the care of the Supportive Care Patient
• Exhibits professionalism and is courteous with all patients, physicians and co-workers
• Informs the provider of patient’s needs and outcomes of interventions as per standards
• Follows Supportive Care providers’ orders regarding the scope and frequency of services needed based on acuity and patient/family needs
• Coordinates all patient/family services and prioritization of needs with the members of the interdisciplinary team
• Documents in the electronic health record progress toward established goals as per standards
• Uses the case management approach and refers to other services as needed
• Maintains a patient case load, daily visits and point of care documentation levels as per standards
• Participates with the on-call rotation schedule and weekends as assigned
• Performs all other related nursing duties as assigned

In 2011, WellMed partnered with Optum to provide care to patients across Texas and Florida. WellMed is a network of doctors, specialists and other medical professionals that specialize in providing care for more than 1 million older adults with over 16,000 doctors’ offices. At WellMed our focus is simple. We’re innovators in preventative health care, striving to change the face of health care for seniors. WellMed has more than 22,000+ primary care physicians, hospitalists, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians who excel in caring for 900,000+ older adults. Together, we’re making health care work better for everyone.

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse with a current license to practice in the state of employment
• Current BLS certification or must obtain certification within 30 days of employment hire date 
• 5+  years of experience in a physician’s office, clinical, hospice or hospital setting
• Demonstrated experience of excellent nursing skills
• Experience related to advanced care planning and discussions with patients regarding end-of-life wishes
• Proficient knowledge of palliative care and end-of-life symptom management
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, and Teams
• Proven excellent verbal and written skills
• Proven ability to interact productively with individuals and with multidisciplinary teams
• Proven excellent organizational and prioritization skills
• Reliable transportation for daily travel to various locations as assigned 
• Must have a valid driver’s license within the state of work

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of hospice experience 
• Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing certification 
• Experience with community-based nursing
• Knowledge of palliative and hospice medicine 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) language proficiency

Physical & Mental Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 100 pounds
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time
• Ability to use fine motor skills to operate office equipment and/or machinery
• Ability to properly drive and operate a company vehicle
• Ability to receive and comprehend instructions verbally and/or in writing
• Ability to use logical reasoning for simple and complex problem solving

The salary range for this role is $59,500 to $116,600 annually based on full-time employment. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. UnitedHealth Group complies with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

OptumCare is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.