Hospice Inpatient Charge Nurse

Affinity Hospice•Emory, GA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Inpatient Charge Nurse leads the day-to-day operations of Affinity Hospice’s Emory GIP program. The role oversees the hospice nursing team, develops and manages schedules, coordinates the interdisciplinary group (IDG), and serves as the primary hospice contact for Emory unit staff. The nurse ensures hospice care is planned, coordinated, documented, and compliant with Medicare standards. When staffing requires, the Charge Nurse provides hospice RN shift coverage, including admissions, assessments, plan-of-care updates, and family support. Emory nursing staff provide bedside care; hands-on bedside care, medication administration, and bedside monitoring remain their responsibility under the GIP contract. The position covers Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown and includes coordination with hospital leaders and clinical teams, oversight of staffing and documentation, support for compliance and quality improvement, and escalation of operational concerns. The schedule is full-time, with RN schedules maintained for day and night shifts.

Requirements

Associate degree or higher.
Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
At least 2 years of RN experience, including at least 1 year in hospice, palliative care, or acute care.
Working knowledge of hospice GIP level-of-care criteria and Medicare hospice documentation.
Experience leading or precepting nurses, or serving as a charge nurse.
Current, unrestricted Georgia RN license or multistate compact license.
CPR certification.
Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the day-to-day activities of hospice RNs at Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown, including assignments, distribution, and daily huddles.
Serve as a clinical resource for hospice RNs regarding General Inpatient (GIP) eligibility, symptom management plans, and clinical documentation requirements.
Review clinical documentation for completeness and timeliness and follow up on identified deficiencies.
Orient, train, and precept new hospice RNs at the Emory hospital locations.
Communicate performance and conduct concerns to the Area Clinical Manager, providing specific examples and supporting documentation.
Develop, maintain, and publish RN schedules for day and night shifts at both hospital locations.
Coordinate staffing coverage for call-offs and PTO by offering available PRN shifts, arranging additional shifts, and escalating unresolved staffing needs.
Monitor open shifts, shift pickups, and contract staffing utilization and provide weekly updates to the Area Clinical Manager.
Recommend additional pickup shifts for SVP approval as needed to maintain appropriate staffing coverage.
Coordinate and facilitate interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings for Emory GIP patients.
Ensure patient plans of care are reviewed and updated in accordance with Medicare requirements, incorporating input from nursing, physicians, social work, and chaplain services.
Track IDG documentation and follow-up actions to ensure timely completion.
Provide hospice RN shift coverage when staffing needs require, including admissions, initial and comprehensive assessments, daily GIP visits, plan-of-care updates, death visits, and family support.
Perform hospice RN duties only when providing shift coverage.
Serve as the primary hospice contact for Emory unit leaders, case managers, and physicians regarding hospice workflows and coordination of care.
Coordinate referrals, admissions, and patient transitions, including step-down and discharge decisions, in collaboration with Emory clinical teams.
Escalate hospital partnership concerns and operational issues to the Area Clinical Manager and SVP as appropriate.
Monitor GIP eligibility documentation and identify patients who may no longer meet GIP criteria for appropriate level-of-care review.
Support clinical audits, chart reviews, compliance monitoring, and quality improvement initiatives.
Ensure compliance with Affinity Hospice policies, Medicare Conditions of Participation, applicable regulatory requirements, and the Emory contract.
Maintain accurate and timely clinical, operational, scheduling, and staffing documentation using the electronic health record and Workday.
Perform other related duties as assigned.