Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare • Merrillville, IN

13d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The RN serves as a primary contact, delivers and documents skilled care based on individualized plans of care, assesses patient needs and condition, and coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team. Care may be provided in patients’ homes, assisted living, or other institutional settings.

The role includes managing symptoms and pain, educating patients and caregivers about medications, disease processes, hospice services, nutrition, and end-of-life care, and providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The RN communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers, maintains accurate clinical records, follows regulatory and infection-control requirements, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position requires travel to patient locations and use of a personal vehicle or other maintained transportation for work.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
• 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 CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and an 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.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program-management skills.
• Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to support people facing end-of-life issues and crises, communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, and work with tact, maturity, cooperation, and flexibility.
• Ability to change among varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable minimum benefit eligibility requirements and state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative, hospice, and other levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when patient care plans warrant participation.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Provide practical caregiver instruction and emotional support, and help patients and families understand hospice services, medication administration, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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