Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Cary, NC

5d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized, skilled hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The nurse is the primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other institutional settings. The position includes comprehensive assessments, symptom management, development and updating of individualized plans of care, caregiver education, interdisciplinary coordination, and timely clinical documentation. The nurse also provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including guidance on hospice services, medications, pain and symptom management, and end-of-life expectations.

The RN collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other members of the interdisciplinary group to coordinate care and respond to changes in patient condition. The position involves on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, participation in quality improvement and scheduling initiatives, and compliance with clinical, infection-control, and regulatory standards. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile, with possible exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse.
• At least one year of RN experience in acute care hospital, oncology, long-term care, hospice, or home health; school internships and clinical hours may be considered in individual cases.
• Current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program-management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, tact, flexibility, maturity, cooperation, and composure when supporting patients and families facing end-of-life issues or crisis.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with colleagues and the hospice team.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care, offering practical instruction and emotional reassurance.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve the team when needed to meet care-plan goals.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational policy standards.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable and provide clinically competent, responsive on-call services.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives and participate in team collaboration and interdisciplinary group activities.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• National and local recognition programs.
• Teammate Assistance Fund.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for full-time associates.
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for full-time associates.
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays for full-time associates.
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care, for full-time associates.
• Education support and tuition assistance for full-time associates, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN support.
• Free continuing education units (CEUs) for full-time associates.
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates.
• Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed