Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice • Homewood, AL

12d

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse serves as a primary point of contact for patients and families throughout their hospice journey, delivering skilled, compassionate nursing care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other locations where they live. The RN performs initial and ongoing assessments, provides symptom management, develops and updates individualized plans of care, and documents clinical findings and care in a timely manner.

The role works closely with an interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, LPNs, CNAs, social workers, and chaplains, to coordinate care and respond to changes in a patient’s condition. The nurse also educates and supports patients, caregivers, and families on hospice services, medications, symptom and pain management, nutrition, end-of-life care, and expectations. The position includes on-call and patient-support activities as applicable and is based in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, with travel by automobile. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., serving Jefferson County.

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 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 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 and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation, and program-management skills.
• Knowledge of managed-care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and tact when supporting patients and families facing terminal illness, death, or crisis.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks and communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Maturity, cooperation, tact, and flexibility when 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 requirements for benefits eligibility.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephone RN assessments or 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 visit frequency and identification of patient needs and risks.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, including consultation with physicians and nurse practitioners.
• Educate patients 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 to home health, palliative, and hospice services, and transitions between levels of care.
• Document screening and assessment findings, physician orders, progress notes, and care plans in timely clinical records.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the interdisciplinary group and involve the team when the care plan warrants collaboration.
• 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 comfort and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers how to safely care for patients and help families navigate hospice philosophy and services, medication administration, symptom management, and end-of-life processes.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and documentation standards.
• 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 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, including ASN-to-BSN and BSN-to-MSN pathways.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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