Hospice Registered Nurse
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, conducts assessments, develops individualized plans of care, coordinates with interdisciplinary teams, and provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support and education. The role includes on-call and patient-support activities, with the preferred schedule Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., followed by on-call coverage from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Additional incentives are provided for on-call duties. Care includes symptom and pain management, medication and caregiver education, hospice and end-of-life guidance, and coordination of transitions among home health, palliative, and hospice services. The RN maintains timely and accurate clinical records and follows infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. Work takes place in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings and in an automobile. The position may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials.
Requirements
- Current license to practice nursing in the state of 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 and of hospice principles and services.
- Ability to understand the roles of disciplines providing hospice services and coordinate with them.
- Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of community resources.
- Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management knowledge.
- Knowledge of general nursing practice and managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
- Sensitivity and tact in supporting patients and families facing end-of-life issues and crisis.
- Flexibility to switch among varied tasks without loss of efficiency or composure.
- Ability to communicate effectively with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and work cooperatively with coworkers and hospice team members.
- Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax machines, copiers, and a cell phone or beeper.
- Must have and maintain transportation for work.
- Ability to meet the requirements of a safety-sensitive position.
Nice To Haves
- Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout the hospice journey.
- Perform comprehensive initial and ongoing patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone assessments or screenings.
- Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in accordance with patient goals of care and individualized plans.
- Develop and update individualized plans of care, including visit frequency and identification of patient risks.
- Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members and consult with physicians and nurse practitioners as needed.
- Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers about disease processes, self-care, end-of-life care, medications, nutrition, hospice services, and symptom and pain management.
- Teach caregivers safe care techniques and provide emotional reassurance and support.
- 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 screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans accurately and promptly.
- Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when warranted by the care plan.
- Participate in on-call and patient-support activities and respond to on-call needs in a clinically competent and timely manner.
- Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational standards.
- Support quality-improvement and scheduling initiatives.
- Provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones, including bereavement guidance.
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 for full-time associates
- Paid time off and seven paid holidays for full-time associates
- 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 for full-time associates
- Company-paid long-term disability insurance for full-time associates
- Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
