Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare • Muncie, IN

14d • Onsite

About The Position

SouthernCare, part of Gentiva, is seeking a Hospice Registered Nurse/RN Case Manager to provide 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 and delivers skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The role includes assessing patient needs, managing symptoms, creating and updating individualized plans of care, educating caregivers, coordinating with an interdisciplinary team, and providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The nurse documents care accurately, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, contributes to quality improvement and scheduling initiatives, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The position requires an active nursing license in the state of employment, CPR certification, a valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and transportation for work. Candidates need at least one year of RN experience; hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and a 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.
• 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, hospice team disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Strong patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to document and support program management.
• Sensitivity and tact in addressing life-and-death issues and supporting patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work maturely and cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to meet the physical and safety requirements of work in patient homes, institutional settings, and an automobile.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patient goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients, family members, 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 appropriate providers.
• Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and 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 patient care needs warrant participation.
• 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 bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, 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 insurance for full-time associates
• Dental insurance for full-time associates
• Vision insurance for full-time associates
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for full-time associates
• Paid time off for full-time associates
• Seven paid holidays for full-time associates
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
• Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways
• Free continuing education units
• Company-paid life insurance for full-time associates
• Company-paid long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
• Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits

What This Job Offers

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