Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Clovis, NM

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 and caregivers. The role serves as a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering and documenting skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they live. The RN performs initial and ongoing assessments, develops and updates individualized plans of care, manages symptoms, and coordinates services with an interdisciplinary team. The position also provides education and emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including guidance on medications, hospice services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life expectations. The RN maintains timely and accurate clinical records, communicates changes in patient condition to appropriate providers, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. Care may be provided in patients’ homes or institutional settings, with travel by automobile. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

Registered Nurse 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; must have and maintain transportation for work.
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 skills, documentation skills, and program management knowledge.
Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Ability to support individuals and families facing life-and-death issues and crisis, and to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, and maturity, cooperation, tact, and flexibility in working with coworkers and hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings, and provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
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 and nurse practitioners, and involve the team when needed to achieve desired outcomes.
Provide education about disease processes, self-care techniques, 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 home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between levels of care.
Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, care plans, and other clinical records accurately and promptly.
Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and other members of the hospice team.
Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
Teach caregivers to provide safe care and offer practical guidance and emotional reassurance.
Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
Use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper effectively, and maintain transportation for work.

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 eligible full-time associates.
Mileage reimbursement or fleet vehicle program for eligible full-time associates.
Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays for eligible full-time associates.
Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care, for eligible full-time associates.
Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs, for eligible full-time associates.
Free continuing education units (CEUs) for eligible full-time associates.
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance for eligible full-time associates.
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage.