Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice • Wentzville, MO

2d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN Case Manager) provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, conducts patient assessments, delivers skilled nursing interventions, manages symptoms, develops individualized plans of care, and coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team. The role also includes educating and supporting patients, caregivers, and families; maintaining accurate clinical records; participating in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable; and following infection control, regulatory, and organizational standards.

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 and/or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of 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 abilities.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity and tact in addressing life-and-death issues and supporting patients and families during crises.
• Ability to adapt, perform varied tasks, and communicate effectively with people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to effectively 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 telephone RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patient goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identified risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult physicians and nurse practitioners as appropriate.
• 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 identifying and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
• Maintain timely clinical documentation, 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 service.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to safely care for their loved ones and help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
• Follow infection control, compliance, regulatory, and policy 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 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 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