Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare•Terre Haute, IN

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) provides personalized, skilled nursing care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The RN serves as a primary point of contact, delivering care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they reside. Care is guided by each patient’s individualized plan of care and focuses on comfort, symptom management, dignity, and support for patients and loved ones. The RN completes initial and ongoing assessments, develops and updates care plans, coordinates with an interdisciplinary team, educates patients and caregivers, communicates changes in condition, and maintains accurate clinical records. The role also supports continuity of care, referrals and transitions between levels of care, quality improvement and scheduling initiatives, and on-call patient support as applicable. The work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The position requires transportation for work and use of nursing assessment tools, computers, fax and copier equipment, and a cell phone or beeper.

Requirements

Current Registered Nurse license to practice in the state of requested 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 and understanding of 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 skills, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and tact when working with patients and families; ability to support others during a crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and change tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax and copier equipment, and a cell phone or beeper.
Must maintain transportation for work.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care and individualized plans.
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, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
Educate patients, family members, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
Teach caregivers how to provide safe and confident care for their loved one.
Communicate changes in patient condition, signs of decline, and other important updates to appropriate providers and the care team.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
Maintain timely, accurate 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 care plan warrants participation.
Follow infection control, regulatory, policy, and compliance standards.
Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Support organizational quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Use required nursing assessment tools, computers, fax and copier equipment, and a cell phone or beeper; maintain transportation for work.

Benefits

Competitive pay
401(k) with company match
Career advancement opportunities
National and local recognition programs
Teammate Assistance Fund
Medical insurance for full-time associates
Dental insurance for full-time associates
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, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways, for full-time associates
Free continuing education units (CEUs) for full-time associates
Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates