Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Ft. Wayne, IN

11d

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 RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The role includes assessing patient needs, managing symptoms, developing individualized plans of care, coordinating with an interdisciplinary team, and educating and supporting patients, caregivers, and loved ones through end-of-life care. The RN maintains accurate clinical documentation, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, supports continuity of care and transitions between levels of care, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and involves travel by automobile. The position may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. 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, 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 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 operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Sensitivity to end-of-life issues; tact and the ability to support patients and families in a crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive in-person and telephone patient assessments and reassessments, and provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, based on patient needs and identified risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
Educate patients 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, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative care, hospice, and different 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, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to care for patients safely and confidently, offering practical instruction and emotional reassurance.
Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, 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.
For full-time associates: 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 programs.
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.