Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Lebanon, TN

18h

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN Case Manager) provides personalized, skilled hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The nurse serves as a primary point of contact, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. Care is tailored to each patient’s individualized plan of care and includes assessment, symptom and pain management, education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team.

The role involves communicating changes in patient condition, maintaining accurate clinical records, supporting appropriate transitions and referrals, and participating in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The nurse also supports quality improvement, scheduling, and regulatory compliance initiatives. The position is safety-sensitive and may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

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 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.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation ability, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to provide sensitive, tactful support to patients and families facing end-of-life issues and times of crisis.
• Ability to adapt flexibly to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with colleagues and hospice team members.
• Ability to effectively 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, guiding them through 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 needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide patients, families, and caregivers with education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom management.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to safely and confidently care for patients, offering practical training and emotional reassurance.
• 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 home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
• Maintain timely, accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the patient’s care plan warrants 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.

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.

What This Job Offers

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