Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Dickson, TN

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is seeking a registered nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The nurse serves as a primary contact for patients and families, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings they call home. Care includes assessment, symptom management, individualized care planning, caregiver education, emotional support, timely documentation, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The role also supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, and on-call patient support.

The preferred schedule is Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with on-call coverage from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Additional incentives are offered for on-call work. Weekday on-call visits have historically been limited.

The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position. The role requires transportation for work and the ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

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 employment.
• 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.
• Thorough knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to end-of-life issues, tact, flexibility, composure, maturity, cooperation, and effective communication with people of varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with the patient’s goals of care and individualized Plan of Care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with an interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other team members.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life expectations.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care for their loved ones.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
• Maintain timely, 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.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities and provide clinically competent, responsive on-call services.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and contribute to consistent, compassionate, efficient care.

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 benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage.

What This Job Offers

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