Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare•Toledo, OH

4d•$71,450 - $89,335

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN)/RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illness and supports their families. The RN is a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering and documenting skilled nursing care according to individualized plans of care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The role includes assessing and monitoring patients, managing symptoms, adjusting care plans, educating patients and caregivers, and providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The RN works with an interdisciplinary group that may include physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains. The position involves coordinating care, communicating changes in condition, maintaining accurate clinical records, following regulatory and infection-control standards, and participating in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. Work settings include patients’ homes and institutional settings, as well as an automobile; exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials is possible. The stated annual salary range is $71,450–$89,335. Compensation may vary based on factors such as location, experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, and department equity. The employer offers a benefits and total rewards package, with additional benefits available to full-time associates.

Requirements

Current license to practice nursing in the state of employment.
Current CPR certification.
Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
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.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of 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.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Good oral and written communication skills, documentation ability, and program-management knowledge.
Ability to support patients and families facing life-and-death issues and crises with sensitivity and tact.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks without losing efficiency or composure and to communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
Demonstrated responsibility, maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, copier, and 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 is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings.
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 interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
Educate patients, family members, 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 by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
Document clinical records promptly, 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 participation.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers safe and confident caregiving practices and explain medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
Follow infection-control, regulatory, and organizational compliance standards and support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.

Benefits

401(k) with company match
Career advancement opportunities
National and local recognition programs
Teammate Assistance Fund
Medical insurance (additional full-time benefit)
Dental insurance (additional full-time benefit)
Vision insurance (additional full-time benefit)
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program (additional full-time benefit)
Paid time off and seven paid holidays (additional full-time benefit)
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
Education support and tuition assistance (ASN to BSN and BSN to MSN)
Free continuing education units
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits