Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice • Kingsport, TN

12d

About The Position

Gentiva Hospice is seeking 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, delivering skilled nursing care in patients’ homes or institutional settings and following each patient’s individualized plan of care. The role includes assessment, symptom management, care coordination, education, documentation, and emotional support for patients, caregivers, and loved ones.

The position works with an interdisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, chaplains, and other care professionals. The nurse also supports continuity of care, participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable, and contributes to quality improvement and scheduling initiatives. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile. The role may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.

Requirements

• Registered Nurse education and licensure.
• 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 understanding of hospice care.
• Ability to apply knowledge of 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 end-of-life issues and tact in working with patients and families; ability to support others during a crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure; ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, flexibility, and tact in working 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 eligibility requirements for benefits.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person or telephonic RN assessments and screenings.
• Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patients’ goals of care.
• Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and risk identification.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients, family members, 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 home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions between 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, providing clinically competent and responsive on-call services.
• Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and loved ones, including education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to care for patients safely and confidently.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational policy standards.
• Support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.
• 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.
• 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: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed