Hospice Registered Nurse

Gentiva Hospice•Paris, TN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse (RN) provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families and caregivers. The RN serves as a primary contact throughout the hospice journey, delivering skilled care in patients’ homes or institutional settings and helping ensure their comfort, dignity, and quality of life. The role includes comprehensive assessments, symptom management, individualized care planning, patient and caregiver education, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The RN documents care accurately, communicates changes in patient condition, supports transitions between levels of care, and participates in on-call and patient support activities as applicable. Work takes place in patients’ homes, institutional settings, and 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 and a 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.
Ability to maintain transportation for work.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice disciplines, general nursing practice, community resources, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Strong patient assessment, oral and written communication, documentation, and program management skills.
Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, facsimile equipment, copier, and cell phone or beeper.
Sensitivity and tact when supporting patients with terminal illness and their families, including the ability to provide support during a crisis.
Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, and the ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Maturity, cooperation, tact, and responsible functioning in the workplace and with hospice team members.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings.
Deliver and document skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with the patient’s goals of care and individualized Plan of Care.
Develop and update individualized care plans, including visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains.
Provide patients, family members, and caregivers with education about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, dietary needs, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including comfort and bereavement guidance.
Communicate changes in condition and signs or symptoms of decline to the appropriate provider and care team.
Support continuity of care by recognizing and supporting appropriate home health, palliative care, and hospice referrals and transitions in 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 patient’s 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, compliance, and policy 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 for ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN programs.
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.