Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare•Terre Haute, IN

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 contact, delivers and documents skilled nursing care according to individualized plans of care, assesses patients in their homes or institutional settings, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The role includes patient and caregiver education, symptom and pain management, emotional and spiritual support, and communication about changes in patient condition. The RN also maintains accurate clinical records, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, supports continuity of care and transitions between care levels, participates in quality and scheduling initiatives, and provides on-call support as applicable. The position involves work in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and an automobile. Potential exposures include infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work and be able to use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

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.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
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.
Excellent patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management skills.
Thorough knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Must have and maintain transportation for work.
Ability to support patients and families facing end-of-life issues, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and demonstrate flexibility, maturity, cooperation, tact, and composure.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings, and provide appropriate education.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment 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, families, 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, appropriate referrals to home health, palliative care, or hospice, and transitions between 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, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Guide patients and families through the hospice journey and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and explain hospice services, medication administration, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life expectations.
Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational 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 (full-time associates)
Dental insurance (full-time associates)
Vision insurance (full-time associates)
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program (full-time associates)
Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays (full-time associates)
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care (full-time associates)
Education support and tuition assistance (ASN to BSN and BSN to MSN)
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance (full-time associates)
Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits