Hospice Registered Nurse
About The Position
The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing personalized nursing care and support throughout the hospice journey. The RN delivers and documents skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living residences, or other settings where they live; completes patient assessments; and develops and updates individualized plans of care in collaboration with patients, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team. The role includes symptom management, caregiver education, emotional and practical support, coordination of care and referrals, communication of changes in patient condition, and timely, accurate clinical documentation. The RN may participate in on-call and patient support activities and supports continuity of care across home health, palliative, hospice, and different levels of care. Work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile. This is a safety-sensitive position.
Requirements
- Registered Nurse education and qualification.
- 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.
- 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 applicable regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
- Strong patient assessment skills and oral and written communication skills; ability to document and manage programs.
- Ability to support patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crises, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and demonstrate flexibility, maturity, cooperation, and tact.
- Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
- Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Nice To Haves
- Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.
Responsibilities
- Perform comprehensive in-person and telephonic patient assessments and reassessments, including screenings, and educate patients, family members, and caregivers 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, to address patient needs and identified risks.
- Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team, including consultation with physicians and nurse practitioners.
- Provide patient and caregiver education on 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 care, and hospice referrals, and transitions between levels of care.
- Document timely clinical records, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
- Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the patient’s care plan warrants collaboration.
- Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
- Guide patients and families in understanding medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
- Follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory standards and support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Wellness programs and resources, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off, including seven paid holidays for full-time associates
- Short-term and long-term disability; company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
- Health Savings Account contribution
- Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program
- Cell phone reimbursement for eligible roles
- Short-term incentive for eligible roles
- Tuition reimbursement and education support, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN assistance
- Free continuing education units
- Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage
- Career advancement opportunities
- National and local recognition programs
- Teammate Assistance Fund
- Competitive pay
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
