Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Johnson City, TN

15d

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is hiring a Registered Nurse to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The nurse serves as a primary point of contact throughout the hospice journey and delivers skilled care in patients’ homes, assisted-living residences, or other institutional settings. The role includes assessing patients, managing symptoms, coordinating individualized care, educating caregivers, and providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. The nurse also documents care, communicates changes in patient condition, supports transitions between care settings and levels of care, and participates in on-call and quality improvement activities as applicable.

The position requires an active nursing license for the state of employment, CPR certification, a valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and transportation for work. Candidates need at least one year of RN experience; hospice or palliative care experience is preferred. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile, with potential exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. This is a safety-sensitive position.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education.
• At least one year of RN experience in acute care, 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.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice services, 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.
• Oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management knowledge.
• Knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to provide sensitive, tactful support to patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; ability to communicate with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with the hospice team.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings, and provide education as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ 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, including physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients 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, appropriate referrals, and transitions between home health, palliative, hospice, and other levels of care.
• Document timely clinical records, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when needed to meet care goals.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable.
• Guide patients and families through hospice services, medication administration, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, and compliance standards and 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 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 pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care benefits for full-time associates

What This Job Offers

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