Hospice Registered Nurse

Heartland Hospice•Mishawaka, IN

About The Position

Heartland Hospice, part of Gentiva, seeks 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, delivering and documenting skilled nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living residences, or other settings where they live. The role includes patient assessments, symptom management, individualized care planning, caregiver education, and coordination with an interdisciplinary team. The nurse also offers emotional, physical, and spiritual support and helps patients and families understand medication administration, hospice services, pain and symptom management, and end-of-life processes. The position requires timely clinical documentation, communication of changes in patient condition, and compliance with infection-control, regulatory, and organizational standards. The nurse supports continuity of care, quality improvement, scheduling initiatives, and on-call patient support as applicable. Work takes place in patients’ homes or institutional settings and in an automobile.

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 employment.
CPR certification.
Current automobile insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families, hospice, hospice team disciplines, community resources, general nursing practice, managed care principles, and regulatory guidelines such as Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
Strong patient assessment, oral and written communication, documentation, and program management skills.
Ability to support patients and families facing life-and-death issues and to communicate effectively with people from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to adapt to changing tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure, and to work cooperatively with colleagues 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.

Nice To Haves

Hospice or palliative care experience.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic assessments or screenings.
Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management aligned with patient goals of care.
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.
Educate patients, families, 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, appropriate referrals, and transitions between levels of care.
Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in a timely manner.
Maintain 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.
Provide practical caregiver instruction and emotional reassurance, and offer bereavement guidance and support.
Follow infection-control, compliance, and regulatory standards and support quality improvement and scheduling initiatives.

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 eligible 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
Free continuing education units (CEUs)
Company-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Voluntary benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage