Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Roanoke Rapids, NC

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized, skilled hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The nurse serves as a primary contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings they call home. Care is based on each patient’s individualized plan of care and includes assessment, symptom management, caregiver education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The role includes comprehensive in-person and telephonic assessments, developing and updating care plans, coordinating with physicians and other clinicians, communicating changes in condition, and maintaining timely and accurate clinical documentation. The nurse also supports continuity of care and appropriate transitions between home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care. On-call and patient support activities may be required as applicable. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile. The position may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The nurse must maintain transportation for work and use nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

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 requested employment.
CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and an understanding 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.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program management knowledge.
Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and tact in dealing with patients and families.
Ability to support others during a crisis and communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure, and maturity, cooperation, and tact in working with colleagues and the hospice team.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

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 telephonic assessments or screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with patient goals of care and individualized plans.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
Consult with physicians and communicate changes in condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
Provide patient, family, and caregiver education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
Teach caregivers safe and confident care practices and provide emotional reassurance.
Provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions between home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care.
Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
Follow infection control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants collaboration.
Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable and respond in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives to promote consistent, compassionate, and 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 support, 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, for full-time associates.