Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Louisburg, NC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Registered Nurse to deliver 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, providing skilled, hands-on nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. Care is guided by each patient’s individualized Plan of Care and includes assessment, symptom management, education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The role includes conducting initial and ongoing assessments, developing and updating care plans, coordinating with providers and team members, educating patients and caregivers, communicating changes in condition, and maintaining accurate clinical documentation. The nurse also supports continuity of care and transitions between service levels, participates in on-call activities as applicable, and contributes to quality improvement, scheduling, and team collaboration. The position involves working in patient homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. It is identified as safety-sensitive.

Requirements

Registered Nurse; education section specifies Registered Nurse.
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 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 skills, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and tact when supporting people facing terminal illness, death, and crisis.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks without loss of efficiency or composure and communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
Educate patients, families, 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, appropriate referrals to home health, palliative care, or hospice, and transitions between levels of care.
Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in a timely manner.
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, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
Guide patients and families through hospice services and topics including medication administration, hospice philosophy, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort, education, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to safely care for their loved ones and provide practical training and emotional reassurance.
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, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways, 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 pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits for full-time associates.
Sign-on bonus available.