Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Newport News, VA

4d•$80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The nurse serves as a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey and delivers skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. Care is guided by each patient’s individualized plan of care and emphasizes dignity, comfort, symptom management, and support for patients and loved ones. The role includes comprehensive initial and ongoing assessments, care planning, coordination with physicians and an interdisciplinary group, patient and caregiver education, timely clinical documentation, and communication about changes in condition. The nurse also supports continuity of care and transitions between service levels, participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and contributes to quality improvement and scheduling initiatives. The position involves work in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The listed salary range is $80,000–$90,000. Compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, and internal and department equity. The posting describes full-time benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement matching; paid time off; disability coverage; tuition assistance; and other programs. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of 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.
Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance; must have and maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed-care principles, and applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Strong patient assessment skills and ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management knowledge.
Sensitivity to end-of-life issues, tact with patients and families, and ability to support people in crisis.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure and to 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.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily and meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families during the hospice journey.
Deliver and document skilled nursing care and symptom-management interventions in accordance with individualized plans of care and goals of care.
Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other providers.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, medication administration, symptom and pain management, nutrition, and hospice services and expectations.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals to home health, palliative care, and hospice, and transitions between levels of care.
Document clinical records promptly and accurately, including assessments, screening findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve team members when the care plan warrants their participation.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Support organizational quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Maintain transportation for work and effectively use required nursing and office equipment.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) with company match
Paid time off (PTO) and seven paid holidays
Wellness programs and resources, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
Short-term and long-term disability coverage
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Health Savings Account contribution
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
Cell phone reimbursement for eligible roles
Short-term incentive for eligible roles
Tuition reimbursement and education support, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN assistance
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage
Career advancement opportunities
National and local recognition programs
Teammate Assistance Fund
Competitive pay