Hospice Registered Nurse

Regency SouthernCare Hospice•Kennesaw, GA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides personalized, skilled nursing care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Serving as a primary point of contact, the RN guides patients and loved ones through the hospice journey, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The nurse performs assessments, manages symptoms, develops and updates individualized plans of care, coordinates with an interdisciplinary team, and provides education and emotional support to patients and caregivers. The role also includes timely clinical documentation, on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and participation in quality, scheduling, and team initiatives. The position requires a current nursing license in the state of employment, CPR certification, a valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and transportation for work. Candidates need at least one year of RN experience; hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. Work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employer offers competitive pay, a 401(k) with company match, career advancement opportunities, recognition programs, and access to a teammate assistance fund. Additional benefits for full-time associates include medical, dental, and vision insurance; mileage reimbursement or a fleet vehicle program; paid time off and seven paid holidays; wellness programs; education support and tuition assistance; free continuing education units; company-paid life and long-term disability insurance; and voluntary benefits.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and 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, 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 support patients and families facing end-of-life issues and to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Flexibility, tact, maturity, cooperation, and the ability to change between different tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
Ability to meet the requirements of a safety-sensitive position and 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.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with each patient’s goals of care and individualized plan.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
Educate patients, families, 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 care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, 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 to achieve desired outcomes.
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 caregiver guidance and bereavement support.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational standards.
Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and contribute to team collaboration and interdisciplinary group activities.
Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

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 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