Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice • Mount Pleasant, MI

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) / RN Case Manager serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing personalized skilled nursing care and support throughout the hospice journey. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they reside, in accordance with individualized plans of care and goals of care.

The RN assesses and reassesses patients, provides symptom management and nursing interventions, develops and updates care plans, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The role includes educating patients and caregivers about illness, medications, nutrition, symptom management, hospice services, and end-of-life care; communicating changes in condition; documenting clinical care; and supporting continuity of care and transitions between levels of service. The RN also participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The position works in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work and be able to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

• 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.
• Strong patient assessment, oral and written communication, documentation, and program management skills.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to support people facing end-of-life issues and crisis, communicate effectively with people of varied socioeconomic backgrounds, and work with tact, maturity, cooperation, and flexibility.
• Ability to change between varied tasks without losing efficiency or composure.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
• 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, including 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, referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care as appropriate.
• Document clinical records in a timely manner, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants collaboration.
• 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 loved ones, including comfort, education, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to provide safe and confident care for their loved one.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational 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 & Spine Concierge Care, for full-time associates
• Education support and tuition assistance 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 benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates

What This Job Offers

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