Discharge Registered Nurse

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The Discharge Registered Nurse (RN) collaborates with the healthcare team to coordinate and facilitate safe, timely, effective patient discharges, evaluating discharge needs to ensure continuity of care. The Discharge RN plays a key role in patient education, care transitions, and coordination with interdisciplinary teams to promote optimal patient outcomes prior to discharge. As a member of the Patient Care Team, the Discharge RN ensures patients and families are prepared for discharge through comprehensive education, resource coordination, and follow-up planning. The RN is responsible for making sound clinical decisions and ensuring each patient receives individualized, high-quality transitional care.

SUPERVISION: Reports directly to Nurse Manager/Director and/or Charge Nurse

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Coordinates and facilitates patient discharges, ensuring readiness and appropriate timing.
• Collaborates with physicians, case management, social work, and interdisciplinary team members to develop and implement discharge plans.
• Assesses patient needs for discharge, including home care, equipment, medications, and follow-up services.
• Provides comprehensive discharge education to patients and families, including medication instructions, follow-up appointments, and self-care guidelines.
• Ensures accurate and timely completion of discharge documentation in accordance with hospital policy.
• Reviews and reconciles discharge medications demonstrates competency in medication administration and patient teaching.
• Utilizes healthcare technology and electronic medical records efficiently.
• Demonstrates competency in use of unit-specific equipment and technology, including Smart Pumps as applicable.
• Interprets and implements physician discharge orders appropriately.
• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and/or discharge planning meetings.
• Promotes patient safety and adherence to evidence-based practices during the discharge process.
• Identifies and addresses barriers to discharge and escalates concerns as needed.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards related to discharge planning.
• Demonstrates service excellence through effective communication, bedside reporting, and patient-centered care practices.
• Maintains cultural competence and addresses the diverse needs of patients and families.
• Evaluates ethical considerations related to discharge planning and patient care transitions.
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives and contributes to process enhancements related to discharge efficiency and patient outcomes.
• Delegates tasks appropriately and coordinates with support staff to ensure completion of discharge activities.

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

• Graduate of School of Nursing.
• Current Louisiana Registered Nurse license or compact state license as Registered Nurse.
• BLS-CPR Certified.
• Ability to read, write and speak intelligible English; Ability to learn quickly, analyze problems and communicate effectively with superiors, peers, and others on one-to-one basis.
• Requires emotional stability and resilience; Must be adaptable to change, be decisive, and demonstrate foresight.
• Must be adaptable to change and receptive to delegated responsibilities; Possesses basic problem-solving skills.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Work requires a variety of physical activities including standing and walking for sustained periods, bending and stooping, and some lifting of 50-100 pounds at a time.
• The work environment may be physically confining.
• Many nursing skills require acute hearing ability, i.e. listening with stethoscope to breath sounds and heart sounds.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with patient, family, peers and medical personnel.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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