Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Vestavia, AL

1d

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 throughout the hospice journey, delivering and documenting skilled nursing care according to individualized plans of care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other places they call home. The role includes comprehensive and ongoing assessments, symptom management, care coordination, patient and caregiver education, and emotional support. The RN works with an interdisciplinary team to develop and update care plans, communicate changes in condition, and help ensure continuity and quality of care.

The position requires at least one year of RN experience, a current nursing license in the state of employment, CPR certification, a 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 RN 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 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 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.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication, documentation, and program-management skills.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity to end-of-life issues and the ability to support patients and families during crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with colleagues and hospice team members.
• Must maintain transportation for work and be able to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with patients’ goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with 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, including appropriate referrals and transitions between home health, palliative care, hospice, and levels of care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team in care planning as appropriate.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call service.
• Guide patients and families through the hospice journey and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident caregiving practices, including medication administration and symptom and pain management.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational quality 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, including 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, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed