Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva • Mineral Wells, TX

18d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for hospice patients and their families, providing skilled, individualized nursing care and support throughout the hospice journey. Care is delivered in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other institutional settings, according to each patient’s plan of care and goals. The RN performs comprehensive assessments and reassessments, manages symptoms, develops and updates care plans, coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team, and communicates changes in condition to the appropriate providers.

The role includes educating patients, caregivers, and family members about disease processes, hospice services, medications, nutrition, self-care, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life expectations. The RN provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support, contributes to continuity of care and transitions between service levels, maintains complete and timely clinical records, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable. The position is based in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and involves travel by automobile. It is safety-sensitive.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• 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.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and of hospice care 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, and program management skills.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity and tact when supporting people facing terminal illness, death, and crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work cooperatively and maturely with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.

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 in alignment with each patient’s goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients, caregivers, and family members 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 in levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in timely clinical records.
• Maintain 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 service.
• Provide skilled, hands-on nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living facilities, or other settings where they reside.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support and bereavement guidance to patients and loved ones.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident care techniques and provide practical training and reassurance.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational 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 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 for full-time associates
• Seven paid holidays for full-time associates
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
• Education support and tuition assistance, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs
• Free continuing education units
• Company-paid life insurance for full-time associates
• Company-paid long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
• Voluntary pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits

What This Job Offers

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