Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare • Bloomington, IN

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN), also described as an RN Case Manager, provides skilled, personalized hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The nurse serves as a primary contact for patients and families, conducts assessments, develops and updates individualized plans of care, manages symptoms, and provides education and emotional support through the hospice journey.

The position coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team, communicates changes in patient condition to appropriate providers, maintains timely and accurate clinical records, and follows infection control, regulatory, and organizational requirements. The nurse may participate in on-call and patient support activities. The role involves travel between patient locations and may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and current license to practice nursing in the state of requested 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.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Excellent patient assessment skills and good oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of documentation and program management, general nursing practice, managed care principles, regulatory guidelines including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC, and human resource management principles.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to end-of-life issues, tact in dealing with patients and families, and support for people in crisis.
• Ability to adapt to changing tasks without loss of efficiency or composure and to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Responsible, mature, cooperative, and flexible approach to working with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with patient goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, to address patient needs and identified risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Provide patient and caregiver education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Communicate changes in condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions between 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 on-call services.
• Guide patients and families through the hospice journey and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe care and help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
• Follow infection control, compliance, regulatory, and policy standards.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Maintain transportation for work and effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.

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 and spine concierge care, for full-time associates
• Education support and tuition assistance for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs for full-time associates
• Free continuing education units 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