Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Little Rock, AR

18d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides skilled, individualized hospice nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The role serves as a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The RN assesses patients, manages symptoms, develops and updates plans of care, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The position also provides education, emotional support, and guidance on hospice services, medications, pain and symptom management, and end-of-life care. The nurse maintains timely and complete clinical documentation, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, supports quality and scheduling initiatives, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The role involves travel between care settings and potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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 employment.
• CPR certification.
• Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
• Maintain transportation for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of hospice principles and services.
• Ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families and of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services.
• Strong patient-assessment skills and knowledge of community resources.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of clinical documentation, program management, and general nursing practice.
• 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.
• 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 from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, accountability, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice-team members.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families and guide them through the hospice journey.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other providers.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, and dietary needs.
• Teach caregivers safe care techniques and provide practical and emotional support.
• Communicate changes in patient condition and signs or symptoms of decline to appropriate providers and the care team.
• Support continuity of care by identifying and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between 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 requires collaboration.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives to promote consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.
• Maintain patient satisfaction and timeliness of visits and documentation.

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
• Generous 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed