Hospice Registered Nurse

Hospice Plus • Athens, TX

27d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivers and documents skilled care in patients’ homes or institutional settings, assesses patient needs and changes in condition, and develops and updates individualized plans of care. The role includes symptom and pain management, caregiver education, emotional and spiritual support, coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and timely clinical documentation. The nurse also supports continuity of care, on-call and patient support activities as applicable, and organizational quality improvement and scheduling 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 maintained for work. Candidates need at least one year of RN experience; hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and qualification.
• At least one year of experience as an RN 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.
• Current CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Transportation available and maintained 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.
• Excellent patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life issues and the ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
• Ability to adapt, perform varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure, and communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact, and the ability to work responsibly with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and cell phones or beepers.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with patient goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with 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, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in a timely manner.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when warranted by the patient’s care plan.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe care and help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
• Follow infection control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and cell phones or beepers, and maintain transportation for work.

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, 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, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

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