Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Fayetteville, NC

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides personalized, skilled nursing and case management for patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families throughout the hospice journey. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other institutional settings, according to individualized plans of care and goals. The nurse assesses patient needs and changes in condition, manages symptoms, coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team, educates patients and caregivers, and provides emotional and practical support, including guidance about hospice services, medications, pain management, and end-of-life expectations. The role requires timely, accurate clinical documentation and compliance with infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. The nurse also supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, team collaboration, and on-call patient support as applicable. 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.

Requirements

Registered Nurse.
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.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Excellent patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills, including clinical documentation and program management.
Ability to provide sensitive, tactful support to patients and families facing end-of-life and crisis situations.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, and to communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Ability to work in patient homes or institutional settings and automobiles, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic screenings, and provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
Coordinate patient 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, referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and other 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 appropriate to achieve desired outcomes.
Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Teach caregivers safe care techniques and provide practical and emotional support.
Follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory 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 insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
Generous paid time off
Seven paid holidays
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
Education support and tuition assistance
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Company-paid life insurance
Company-paid long-term disability insurance
Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits