Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Evansville, IN

14d

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. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, assesses patient needs and changes in condition, delivers symptom-management interventions, and develops and updates individualized plans of care in line with patient goals. The role works closely with an interdisciplinary group that may include physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains. The RN educates patients and caregivers about disease processes, medications, nutrition, self-care, hospice services, and end-of-life care; provides emotional and practical support; coordinates transitions and referrals; and maintains accurate, timely clinical records. The position also participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable and contributes to quality, scheduling, regulatory-compliance, and team-collaboration efforts. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The position 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 or 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 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 their special needs.
Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
Strong patient-assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management ability.
Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity and tact when addressing end-of-life issues and supporting patients and families during crises.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and shift between tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, tact, and responsible conduct in the workplace and with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax 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 benefits eligibility.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone 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, based on patient needs and identified risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with 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 between levels of care.
Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in timely clinical records.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants participation to achieve desired outcomes.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care, including practical training and emotional reassurance.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, and organizational compliance standards.
Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and contribute to team collaboration and interdisciplinary group activities.
Help patients and families understand hospice philosophy and services, medication administration, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

Benefits

Competitive pay.
401(k) with company match.
Career advancement opportunities.
National and local recognition programs.
Teammate Assistance Fund.
For full-time associates: 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 pathways.
For full-time associates: free continuing education units (CEUs).
For full-time associates: company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
For full-time associates: voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits.