Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice • Indianapolis, IN

1d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The nurse is a primary point of contact, delivers and documents skilled care according to individualized plans of care, assesses patients’ conditions, coordinates with an interdisciplinary team, and provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support and education to patients, caregivers, and loved ones. Care is provided in patients’ homes or institutional settings, and may include on-call patient support as applicable.

The role includes developing and updating care plans, managing symptoms, communicating changes in condition to providers, supporting continuity of care and transitions between levels of care, and maintaining complete and timely clinical records in accordance with applicable standards. The position also supports quality improvement, scheduling, infection control, regulatory compliance, and team collaboration.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and a current license to practice nursing in the state of 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, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Strong patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of documentation and program management.
• Sensitivity and tact when supporting people facing terminal illness, end-of-life issues, and crisis.
• Ability to adapt to varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, communicate with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds, and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and cell phones or beepers.
• 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 telephonic RN assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams and consult with 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 and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider.
• Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions among home health, palliative, hospice, and other levels of care.
• Document timely clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when warranted by the patient’s care plan.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
• Serve as a primary contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and provide practical training and emotional reassurance.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation and follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory 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, dental, and vision insurance for full-time associates
• Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays for full-time associates
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
• Education support and tuition assistance (ASN to BSN, BSN to MSN)
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
• Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed