Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Oxford, NC

11d • Onsite

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 nurse serves as a primary point of contact, delivers and documents skilled care according to individualized plans of care, assesses patients over time, coordinates with an interdisciplinary team, and provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support. Care may be provided in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other institutional settings.

The role includes educating patients and caregivers about hospice services and philosophy, medications, symptom and pain management, nutrition, self-care, and end-of-life expectations. The RN communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers, maintains accurate clinical records, follows infection-control and regulatory requirements, supports continuity of care and transitions between care levels, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and 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 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.
• Excellent patient assessment skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program management abilities.
• Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity to life-and-death issues and the ability to support patients and families during a crisis.
• Ability to adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in dealings 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.
• Must meet applicable state-specific requirements and minimum requirements for benefit eligibility.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
• Provide education to patients, family members, and caregivers as appropriate.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including patient visit frequency, to meet individual needs and identify risks.
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients and caregivers about disease processes, self-care techniques, end-of-life care, medications, and nutrition and dietary needs.
• Communicate changes in condition or signs and symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider, such as an NP, PCP, or hospice physician.
• Support continuity of care, appropriate referrals, and transitions in levels of care across home health, palliative, and hospice services.
• Document timely clinical records, including screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans.
• Maintain effective 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 on-call services.
• Follow infection-control, compliance, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• Teach caregivers how to provide safe care and offer practical and emotional support.
• Help patients and families understand medication administration, hospice philosophy and services, symptom and pain management, and end-of-life processes and expectations.

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, 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 benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

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