Hospice Registered Nurse

SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice • Vestavia Hills, AL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice Registered Nurse / RN Case Manager provides personalized hospice and palliative nursing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. The nurse serves as a primary point of contact, delivering and documenting skilled care in patients’ homes, assisted living settings, or other locations where they reside. The role includes assessing patient needs and condition, developing and updating individualized plans of care, managing symptoms, educating patients and caregivers, and coordinating services with an interdisciplinary team. The nurse also provides emotional, physical, and spiritual support, communicates changes in condition to appropriate providers, maintains accurate clinical records, and participates in on-call and patient-support activities as applicable.

The position is based in patients’ homes and/or institutional settings, as well as in an automobile, and may involve exposure to infections, communicable diseases, odors, blood, excreta, and hazardous materials. The nurse must maintain transportation for work and be able to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.

SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice is part of Gentiva, a national provider of hospice, palliative care, home health care, and advanced illness management. The company describes a collaborative environment in which achievements are recognized and kindness is celebrated.

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.
• Knowledge of terminally ill patients and their families and an 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.
• Strong patient assessment skills and knowledge of general nursing practice.
• Good oral and written communication skills, documentation skills, and program-management knowledge.
• Thorough knowledge of managed care principles and regulatory guidelines, including Medicare, Medicaid, and ACHC.
• Sensitivity and tact when supporting patients and families facing life-and-death issues and crises.
• Flexibility to perform varied tasks while maintaining efficiency and composure.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and to work cooperatively and tactfully with coworkers and hospice team members.
• Ability to operate nursing assessment tools, computers, fax equipment, a copier, and a cell phone or beeper.
• Must have and maintain transportation for work.
• Must meet applicable minimum benefit eligibility and state-specific requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Hospice or palliative care experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive patient assessments and reassessments, including in-person and telephonic RN assessments or screenings.
• Deliver skilled nursing interventions and symptom management in alignment with the patient’s 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, 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.
• Document clinical records promptly, 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 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 education, comfort, and bereavement guidance.
• Teach caregivers safe and confident caregiving practices, including practical care techniques and emotional support.
• Follow infection-control, regulatory, compliance, and organizational 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.
• 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 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 benefits, including pet, critical illness, accident, and long-term care coverage, for full-time associates.

What This Job Offers

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