Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare • Muncie, IN

14d • Onsite

About The Position

SouthernCare, part of Gentiva, is hiring a Hospice Registered Nurse / RN Case Manager to provide personalized hospice and palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support their families. The nurse is 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 role includes assessment, symptom management, care planning, education, emotional support, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The nurse also supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, and applicable on-call activities.

The role is based in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, with travel by automobile. It may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The employee must maintain transportation for work and effectively use nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

Requirements

• Current license to practice nursing in the state of requested employment.
• 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 CPR certification.
• Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, community resources, and general nursing practice.
• Ability to apply knowledge of the special needs of hospice patients and families.
• Excellent patient-assessment skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management skills.
• Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity to the impact of life-and-death issues and the ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, tact, and flexibility when working with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable minimum and state-specific requirements to be eligible for benefits.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and manage symptoms in alignment with patient goals of care and individualized plans of care.
• Develop and update individualized care plans, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners as appropriate.
• Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers on disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice philosophy and services, and symptom and pain management.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
• Communicate changes in patient condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
• 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 when the care plan warrants participation.
• Participate in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, responding in a clinically competent and timely manner.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, and organizational compliance standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives and contribute to team collaboration and patient and caregiver satisfaction.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• National and local recognition programs.
• Teammate Assistance Fund.
• For full-time associates: 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 pathways.
• For full-time associates: free continuing education units (CEUs).
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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