Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Dallas, TX

4d

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 RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivers and documents skilled nursing care in patients’ homes or institutional settings, assesses patient needs, and develops and updates individualized plans of care. The role includes symptom management, patient and caregiver education, emotional support, care coordination with an interdisciplinary team, and communication about changes in patient condition. The RN also maintains timely, accurate clinical records, follows regulatory and infection-control standards, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The position involves working in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The RN must maintain transportation for work and be able to use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax and copier equipment, and a cell phone or beeper.

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 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 skills.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice, managed-care principles, regulatory guidelines (including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC), and human-resource-management principles.
• Ability to support patients and families facing life-and-death issues and crisis, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to work cooperatively and flexibly with coworkers and hospice team members, using tact and maturity.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum benefit eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

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 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, 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 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.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and provide practical training and emotional reassurance.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and policy standards.
• 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 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 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, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs.
• Free continuing education units (CEUs).
• Company-paid life insurance for full-time associates.
• Company-paid 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
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed