Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Kingsport, TN

8d

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide compassionate, 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 and delivers skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other institutional settings. Care is guided by individualized plans of care and includes ongoing assessment, symptom and pain management, education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team.

The role includes developing and updating plans of care, coordinating with physicians and other care professionals, communicating changes in patient condition, documenting clinical records, and supporting transitions between home health, palliative care, hospice, and different levels of care. The nurse also participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position involves working in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position.

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 requested employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and 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.
• Strong patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of documentation, program management, and general nursing practice.
• Thorough knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life issues; tact and ability to support patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and cooperate with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, to meet patient needs and identify risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including 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 by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
• Document timely clinical records, including screening and 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 on-call services.
• Guide patients and families through the hospice journey and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
• Maintain infection-control and compliance 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, 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, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

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