Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Gainesville, GA

3d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, delivering personalized, skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living communities, or other institutional settings. The RN assesses patient needs, provides symptom management and education, develops and updates individualized plans of care, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The role also supports patients’ loved ones with practical guidance, emotional support, and information about hospice services and end-of-life care.

The RN maintains accurate and timely clinical documentation, communicates changes in patient condition to appropriate providers, supports continuity of care and transitions between levels of care, and participates in on-call and patient support activities as applicable. The position requires sound clinical judgment, empathy, adaptability, regulatory compliance, and effective collaboration with patients, caregivers, and the hospice team. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

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 employment.
• CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Transportation available and maintained for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, and the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Knowledge of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and of community resources.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Oral and written communication, documentation, and program management skills.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to support patients and families facing life-and-death issues and to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; maturity, cooperation, and tact in working with patients, families, coworkers, and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephone RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
• Provide patient, family, and caregiver education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and provide emotional reassurance and support.
• Communicate changes in patient 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 in levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when care plans warrant team participation.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Follow infection control, regulatory, and organizational compliance 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, dental, and 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, for full-time associates.
• Education support and tuition assistance for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs for full-time associates.
• Free continuing education units for full-time associates.
• 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
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed