Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Rainbow City, AL

13d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager provides individualized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The nurse serves as a primary 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 works closely with an interdisciplinary team and provides patients, caregivers, and loved ones with education, emotional support, and guidance about hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life care. The RN also supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, regulatory compliance, and on-call patient support as applicable.

The position is performed in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. It may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work and effectively use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• 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.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program management ability.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to support people facing life-and-death issues and provide tactful support to patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact, and responsible workplace conduct.
• Ability to effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum requirements for benefit eligibility.

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 or telephone RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with the patient’s goals of care and individualized plan.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve the team as appropriate to achieve desired outcomes.
• Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about the disease process, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, and hospice services.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe care and offer emotional reassurance and support.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• 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 appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
• Document timely and accurate clinical records, including assessments, screenings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Support organizational quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and other members of the hospice team.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with company match
• Career advancement opportunities
• National and local recognition programs
• Teammate Assistance Fund
• Medical insurance for full-time associates
• Dental insurance for full-time associates
• Vision insurance for full-time associates
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and Joint & Spine Concierge Care
• Education support and tuition assistance (ASN to BSN and BSN to MSN)
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits

What This Job Offers

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