Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva•Kinston, NC

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivers and documents skilled nursing care in patients’ homes or institutional settings, and performs initial and ongoing assessments to guide individualized care. The role includes coordinating with an interdisciplinary team, educating patients and caregivers, managing symptoms, communicating changes in condition, and supporting continuity of care and transitions between care levels. The RN also contributes to quality improvement, scheduling, regulatory compliance, and on-call patient support as applicable. Care is provided in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, with transportation required for work. The position may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and a current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
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 CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice services, 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.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity and tact when supporting people facing terminal illness, death, and crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and adapt without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum requirements for benefits eligibility.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with each patient’s goals of care and individualized Plan of Care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other providers.
Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, and hospice services.
Communicate changes in patient condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions between home health, palliative, hospice, and other levels of care.
Maintain timely and 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 needed to achieve desired outcomes.
Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently, including medication administration and symptom and pain management.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, and organizational compliance 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 for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs 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 for full-time associates.