Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice • Wausau, WI

1d

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. The RN serves as a primary contact, delivers and documents skilled nursing care in patients’ homes or institutional settings, assesses patient needs and condition, develops and updates individualized plans of care, and coordinates care with an interdisciplinary team. The role includes symptom and pain management, patient and caregiver education, emotional and spiritual support, and guidance on hospice services and end-of-life care. The RN also supports continuity of care, participates in on-call activities as applicable, maintains accurate clinical records, and follows infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile. The position 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 support patients and families through life-and-death issues and times of crisis, with tact and sensitivity.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, and ability to communicate effectively with people of varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in 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.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

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 manage symptoms in alignment with patient 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 and consult with 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, including appropriate referrals and transitions among home health, palliative, hospice, and other levels of care.
• Document clinical records promptly, including assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when appropriate to achieve desired outcomes.
• Participate in on-call and patient support activities as applicable, providing clinically competent and responsive service.
• Provide patients and families with guidance about medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives to promote consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.

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
• Generous paid time off and seven paid holidays
• Wellness programs, including telemedicine, diabetes management, and joint and spine concierge care
• Education support and tuition assistance for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs
• Free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• 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