Hospice Registered Nurse, RN - Full Time

Heartland Hospice•Pittsburgh, PA

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a full-time Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes or institutional settings and helping patients and caregivers understand hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life care. The role involves comprehensive assessments, individualized care planning, symptom management, patient and caregiver education, coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and accurate clinical documentation. The RN also communicates changes in patient condition, supports continuity of care and transitions between levels of care, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position is safety-sensitive and may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. Work takes place in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and an automobile.

Requirements

Registered Nurse qualification.
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.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice services, hospice team disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, and managed care and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Strong patient assessment, oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
Ability to support patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crises, communicate with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, adapt to changing tasks, and work cooperatively with the hospice team.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
Must meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, based on patient needs and identified risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members 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 by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
Document clinical records promptly, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers safe and confident care practices, including medication administration and symptom management.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, and compliance standards and 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, 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 programs, for full-time associates.
Free continuing education units for full-time associates.
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates.
Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits for full-time associates.