Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Circleville, OH

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Hospice Registered Nurse / RN Case Manager to provide compassionate, personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The RN serves as a primary point of contact and delivers skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other locations where they reside. The role includes assessing patients, managing symptoms, coordinating individualized care with an interdisciplinary team, educating caregivers, and supporting patients and families through end-of-life care. The nurse also maintains timely and accurate clinical records, follows regulatory and infection-control requirements, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position involves working in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as using an automobile to travel for work. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work and meet applicable safety-sensitive, state-specific, and benefits eligibility requirements. The stated salary range is $80,000–$91,000 per year. Compensation may vary based on factors including location, experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, and department equity. Gentiva offers a comprehensive benefits and total rewards package, with additional benefits for full-time associates.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and a 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.
Maintain transportation for work.
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 skills, and program-management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and the ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks without losing efficiency or composure and to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact, and responsible functioning in the workplace and with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily and meet the requirements of a safety-sensitive position.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and 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.
Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other providers.
Consult with physicians and nurse practitioners and communicate changes in patient condition or signs of decline to appropriate providers.
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.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to care for patients safely and confidently, providing practical instruction and emotional reassurance.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
Document timely and accurate screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the patient’s care plan warrants participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and contribute to 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, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN support, for full-time associates.
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 coverage.