Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Hampstead, NC

10d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager is the primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing skilled, individualized nursing care and guidance throughout the hospice journey. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings, according to each patient’s Plan of Care and goals of care.

The RN assesses and reassesses patient needs, manages symptoms, develops and updates care plans, coordinates with an interdisciplinary team, and communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers. The role also includes educating and supporting patients, caregivers, and families on hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, nutrition, end-of-life care, and related expectations. The RN maintains timely and accurate clinical documentation, supports continuity of care and quality initiatives, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position and requires maintaining transportation for work.

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 requested employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of hospice care 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.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed care principles.
• Knowledge of regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and tact and ability to support patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks and communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, tact, and flexibility when working with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including 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 by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
• Document clinical records promptly, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• 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.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for patients and families and guide them through the hospice journey.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers to provide safe care and offer practical training and emotional reassurance.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and follow infection control, compliance, regulatory, and policy standards.
• Support organizational quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

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
• 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
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• 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
• Education Level: No Education Listed