Hospice Registered Nurse
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 nurse serves as a primary point of contact, delivering skilled care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings. The role includes assessing patient needs, developing and updating individualized plans of care, managing symptoms, educating patients and caregivers, coordinating with an interdisciplinary team, and documenting care in accordance with clinical, regulatory, and organizational standards. The nurse may also participate in on-call and patient support activities. The position requires at least one year of RN experience in an eligible setting, a current nursing license in the state of employment, CPR certification, valid driver’s license, and current automobile insurance. Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. Work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The role requires maintaining transportation for work and using nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
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 requested employment.
- 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 knowledge.
- Thorough knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
- Ability to support patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crises, communicate effectively across socioeconomic backgrounds, and work with tact, maturity, cooperation, and flexibility.
- Ability to perform varied tasks and adapt without losing efficiency or composure.
- Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
- Must have and maintain transportation for work.
- Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum requirements for benefits eligibility.
Nice To Haves
- Hospice or palliative care experience.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families throughout the hospice journey.
- Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings.
- Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with patient goals and individualized plans of care.
- Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
- Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
- Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
- Educate patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, and safe caregiving practices.
- Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
- Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
- Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
- Follow infection control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
- Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when patient care requires it.
- Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
- Support organizational quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
- Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Paid time off
- Seven paid holidays
- Wellness programs and resources, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- 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
- Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
- Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage
- Career advancement opportunities
- National and local recognition programs
- Teammate Assistance Fund
- FMLA, ADA, and other federal and state-required leaves
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
