Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Raleigh, NC

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide 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, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other places they call home. The role includes assessing patient needs, managing symptoms, coordinating with an interdisciplinary team, educating caregivers, and maintaining accurate clinical records. The position also supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, and on-call patient support as applicable. The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position. The posting describes Heartland Hospice as part of a national organization with nearly 600 locations and thousands of clinicians across 38 states.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and qualification.
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, 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.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program-management knowledge.
Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed-care principles, regulatory guidelines (including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC), and human resource management principles.
Sensitivity and tact when supporting patients and families facing life-and-death issues and crises.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in dealing 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.

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 and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, based on patient needs and identified risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other providers.
Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and provide emotional reassurance and support.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to appropriate providers and the care team.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions in level of care.
Document clinical records in a timely manner, 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 patient care plans warrant collaboration.
Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including bereavement guidance.

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 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
Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN support
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage