Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Williamston, NC

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing skilled nursing care and guidance throughout the hospice journey. The nurse delivers and documents care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other places they call home, and conducts initial, ongoing, in-person, and telephonic assessments to monitor condition and adjust care. The role develops and updates individualized plans of care, including visit frequency, and provides symptom management and education aligned with patients’ goals of care. The nurse coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team that may include physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other professionals. The position supports patients and loved ones with physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, caregiver training, medication and nutrition guidance, hospice education, symptom and pain management, end-of-life expectations, and bereavement guidance. It communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers, helps support continuity and transitions of care, maintains timely and accurate clinical records, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, participates in quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives, and provides on-call and patient-support services as applicable. Work takes place in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The position requires use of nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper, as well as maintaining transportation for work.

Requirements

Registered Nurse education and 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.
Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance; must have and maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding 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 and knowledge of general nursing practice.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Good oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
Ability to show sensitivity, tact, flexibility, maturity, cooperation, and composure when supporting patients and families during crises and end-of-life situations.
Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, copiers, and cell phones or beepers.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily and meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and families and guide them through the hospice journey.
Perform comprehensive initial, ongoing, in-person, and telephonic patient assessments and reassessments; provide education as appropriate.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management consistent with individualized plans of care and goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including patient visit frequency and identification of risks and needs.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians and nurse practitioners, and involve the team when indicated by the care plan.
Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and expected end-of-life processes.
Train and support caregivers in safely caring for loved ones and provide emotional reassurance and bereavement guidance.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to appropriate providers, such as a nurse practitioner, primary care provider, or hospice physician.
Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals to home health, palliative care, or hospice, and transitions between levels of care.
Document assessments, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
Follow infection-control practices, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies and compliance standards.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.

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 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 for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN studies
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage