Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Yuma, AZ

6d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized, skilled hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted-living residences, and other settings where they live. Care is guided by individualized plans of care and includes assessments, symptom management, education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team.

The role includes developing and updating plans of care, coordinating with physicians and other hospice professionals, communicating changes in patient condition, and maintaining complete and timely clinical documentation. The RN also supports continuity of care, participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and follows applicable regulatory, infection-control, and organizational standards. The work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential 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 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.
• Transportation must be available and maintained for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, and managed-care principles.
• Strong patient-assessment skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to document and support program management, and knowledge of applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to provide sensitive, tactful support to patients and families facing terminal illness and end-of-life issues.
• Ability to adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and work cooperatively with colleagues and hospice-team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephone RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patient goals of care.
• 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.
• Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Teach caregivers how to provide safe care and offer emotional support and reassurance.
• Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions between levels of care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when patient needs warrant collaboration.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Help patients and families understand hospice services and philosophy, medication administration, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes.

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 eligible full-time associates
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for eligible full-time associates
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays for eligible full-time associates
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care, for eligible full-time associates
• Education support and tuition assistance for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs for eligible full-time associates
• Free continuing education units for eligible full-time associates
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for eligible full-time associates
• Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage

What This Job Offers

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