Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Maumee, OH

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse provides personalized, skilled nursing care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The RN serves as a primary contact, performs initial and ongoing assessments, delivers symptom management, and develops and updates individualized plans of care. Care may be provided in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The role works closely with an interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains, to coordinate care and respond to changes in patient condition. The RN educates patients and caregivers about hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, nutrition, self-care, and end-of-life expectations, while offering emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The position also requires timely and accurate clinical documentation, adherence to infection-control and regulatory standards, participation in quality improvement and scheduling initiatives, and on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. 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.
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.
Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
Ability to apply knowledge of hospice and the special needs of terminally ill patients and their 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.
Sensitivity and tact in addressing life-and-death issues and supporting patients and families during crises.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and change tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to effectively operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings.
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, families, 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, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants collaboration.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers safe and confident care practices and provide practical training and emotional reassurance.
Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
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, dental, and vision insurance for full-time associates.
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program.
Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays.
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 programs.
Free continuing education units.
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance.
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage.