Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Midland, MI

18d

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. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The RN serves as a primary contact for patients and families, guiding them through hospice care and providing clinical, educational, emotional, and practical support. The role includes conducting comprehensive and ongoing assessments, delivering skilled nursing interventions and symptom management, and developing and updating individualized plans of care. The RN coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team and appropriate providers, monitors and communicates changes in patient condition, and supports continuity of care and transitions between service levels. The position also requires timely clinical documentation, participation in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and compliance with regulatory, infection-control, and organizational standards. The work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The position may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position. The employee must maintain transportation for work and meet applicable state-specific requirements.

Requirements

Registered Nurse.
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.
Maintain transportation to be used for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and understanding of hospice.
Ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families and of the roles of disciplines providing hospice services.
Excellent patient assessment skills and knowledge of community resources.
Good oral and written communication skills.
Knowledge of documentation and program management, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Sensitivity and tact when supporting patients with terminal illness and their families, including during times of crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks and communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, and tact in working with coworkers and hospice team members.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
Provide education to 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 appropriate providers.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting home health, palliative, and hospice referrals and transitions in levels of care.
Document clinical records in a timely manner, including 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.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Guide patients and families through hospice care and provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support, including bereavement guidance.
Teach caregivers to provide safe and confident care for their loved ones.
Maintain infection-control and compliance standards and support 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

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, 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.